While respondents have noticed an increased police presence two thirds of those surveyed think anti-social behaviour has stayed the same or gotten better.
Ministers today welcomed news that residents in the areas most affected by youth anti-social behaviour have noticed an increase in police presence and extra activities to keep young people off the streets since the launch of the Youth Crime Action Plan.
The Youth Taskforce survey also shows broad support for the Government’s approach with 80 per cent saying more positive activities for young people and confiscating alcohol is the right thing to do and 90 per cent felt it was a good idea to make alcohol more difficult to buy.
But Ministers stressed more needs to be done to impose tough sanctions and offer non-negotiable support, as the survey also shows that just over two thirds of people in the 69 priority areas think anti-social behaviour has stayed the same or got better, with just over a quarter saying anti-social behaviour has got worse.
Children’s Secretary Ed Balls and Schools Minister Vernon Coaker will today visit Limehouse Youth Centre in East London to highlight the Government’s progress in tackling anti-social behaviour and youth crime over the last two years in 69 priority areas. Ministers will also meet with young people and members of the community who have benefited from Government initiatives to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Other figures also show that:
? Street based teams have dealt with over 86,000 young people at risk in priority areas, redirecting them to support services and positive activities
? Since 2008, 28,000 disruptive young people have faced tough measures and support to tackle their behaviour through Challenge and Support projects, with 2165 Acceptable Behaviour Contracts and 313 Anti-Social Behaviour Orders issued
? 517 young people have benefitted from targeted and persistent support through our Intensive Intervention Projects.
? Recent data from the British Crime Survey shows that concerns about teenagers hanging around have dropped by 3 per cent over the last two years.
These highlight a significant step forward since the introduction of the Youth Crime Action Plan (YCAP) in 2008 which has speeded up progress in tackling anti-social behaviour and youth crime.
Ed Balls said:
“Over the last two years, the Government has made good progress in tackling anti-social behaviour and youth crime in areas across the country. But we know that challenges remain. We are clear that there are firm boundaries and clear consequences for those who overstep them – but support for young people and their families who try to turn their lives around.
“It’s good to see from today’s Youth Taskforce Survey that most people in those areas where youth crime is particular problem feel we are tackling the causes of the issues that matter in their community. However it is also clear that there is still a lot of hard work to do to make sure no local residents are troubled by anti-social behaviour.”
Home Secretary Alan Johnson said:
“We are determined to tackle youth crime and drive down anti-social behaviour which ruins lives and damages our communities and I’m pleased our work is having an impact in the 69 intensive Youth Crime Action Plan areas.
“We are working across the country to support local areas in tackling anti-social behaviour specifically including extending Victim Support services, encouraging areas to set and publicise minimum standards of service, stepping up action on ASBO breaches, and providing targeted support and challenge to priority areas.”
School’s Minister Vernon Coaker said:
“This survey shows that people recognise that we’re taking the right action, such as providing more positive activities, family intervention projects and parenting classes, but there is more to do to make sure everyone can see a difference in their area.
“We must build on the progress we’ve made through tough sanctions and non-negotiable support and by making sure that anti-social youngsters face up to the consequences of their actions, but are also supported to help turn their lives around. Youth crime and anti-social behaviour has a devastating impact on young people, families and local communities. It’s important that communities see that anti-social behaviour is being dealt with as and where it happens.
“We have committed £100m of new funding to tackle anti-social behaviour and as well as tough enforcement, we must continue to focus on providing early intervention for the most troubled young people. Through the Youth Taskforce Action Plan, Intensive Intervention Projects have already supported over 500 young people and I hope that more young people will benefit from this targeted support to set themselves on the right path.”
Today’s data shows some of the impact is testament to the success of the Government’s £100m Youth Crime Action Plan. Since 2008, local authorities and the police have been cracking down on youth crime and anti-social behaviour in 69 priority areas of the country, providing targeted support, early intervention and tough enforcement measures.
In addition to the tough enforcement approach the Government is taking, the positive activities for young people programme is targeting the most at risk 8 to19-year-olds - providing development activities outside of school hours and during the holidays, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Government also has invested £272 million in the flagship myplace programme to deliver world class youth facilities, driven by the active participation of young people. Already, 23 per cent of people say they have seen an increase in facilities or activities for young people.
The vast majority of young people are doing well and recent data showed that there has been a 21.6 per cent reduction in first time entrants to the criminal justice system. The Youth Taskforce is working to tackle the root causes of anti-social behaviour through early intervention projects, parenting programmes and providing young people with positive things to do and places to go.
The Government is continuing its commitment to tackle anti-social behaviour through extending victim support services to all victims and witnesses of ASB in magistrate’s courts, encouraging areas to set and publicise minimum standards of service by March 2010, stepping up action on ASBO breaches, and providing targeted support and challenge to 62 CDRP areas where more than 25 per cent of the population think ASB in a big problem.