The Government's tough stance against what it refers to as Britain's "sub-criminal culture" has resulted in the rapid progression through Parliament of the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill. This, and other related measures, award the police and local authorities an array of new powers to stamp out anti-social behaviour and create safer, cleaner environments for local residents.

Environmental health practitioners are a vital resource in the drive to tackle abuses of the environment that make public places a focus for anti-social behaviour and in dealing with intimidating and offensive behaviour. Sue Blakeley discusses the enforcement role of EHPs, while I take a brief look at the contents of the bill and report on some examples of local authority good practice.

On an international platform, one of the Government's major concerns is the so-called "war against terror". In Iraq, coalition forces are working hard to rebuild a country devastated by the former regime of Saddam Hussein, a disastrous war with Iran, two Gulf Wars and UN sanctions. Since the outbreak of military operations in mid-March, UK forces have distributed food, water and medical supplies to the Iraqi population in southern Iraq, and are working with international and non-governmental organisations to rebuild the local infrastructure.

Ian Foulkes, currently serving with the British Army's 7th Armoured Brigade (the Desert Rats) within a specialist civil-military affairs team, reports from Basrah on the current environmental and public health issues, and updates us on a project to clear thousands of tonnes of refuse from the streets of the city for removal to safe landfill.

The threat of terrorism that led the UK and US to war with Iraq, has also led to the launch of a draft Civil Contingencies Bill to deliver a single framework for civil protection within the UK. Repealing legislation such as the Emergency Powers Act 1920 and the Civil Defence Act 1948, the aim of the bill is to set out clear responsibilities at local and regional level in the event of a civil emergency. In the event of a bio-terrorist attack in the UK, how would environmental health fit into a co-ordinated response? Nick Warburton examines the issues.

On a completely different note, Jill Stewart analyses the recent changes in private sector housing renewal and looks at some of the policies local authorities are developing to respond to such a rapid and fundamental shift in grant legislation.

Finally, I take a look at some of the implications of the new European legislation that has banned the practice of on-farm burial and burning of animal carcasses. There is anecdotal evidence of an explosion in interest in the use of on-farm and mobile incineration units, but while the potential risk to human health and the environment is low, the potential for nuisance is still high if environmental health departments take their eye off the ball.