Prime Minister announces more powers for police to ‘stamp out’ anti-social behaviour

Increased policing in ‘hotspot’ areas of England and Wales with the highest rates of anti-social behaviour will also be trialled.

And under the Government’s “zero-tolerance approach”, nitrous oxide or ‘laughing gas’ will now be banned.

The drug is now the third most used among 16 to 24-year-olds in England and both the police and public have repeatedly reported links between use of the drug and nuisance or anti-social behaviour.

It will also be made an offence for criminal gangs to organise begging networks for extra cash, often used to fund illegal activities, with police and local authorities given fresh powers to address people deemed to be imitating or causing the public distress.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Anti-social behaviour undermines the basic right of people to feel safe in the place they call home.

“The public have rightly had enough – which is why I am determined to restore people’s confidence that those responsible will be quickly and visibly punished.

“This action plan maps out how we will tackle this issue with the urgency it deserves and stamp out these crimes once and for all – so that wherever you live, you can feel safe in, and proud of your community.”

Under his Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan, launched on Monday (March 27), 16 areas in England and Wales will be funded to support either new ‘hotspot’ police and enforcement patrols in areas with the highest rates of anti-social behaviour, or trial a new ‘immediate justice’ scheme to “deliver swift and visible punishments”.

A select few areas will trial both interventions, and following these initial ‘trailblazers’, both schemes will be rolled out across England and Wales from 2024.

Hotspot trailblazer areas will see an increase in police presence alongside other uniformed authority figures, such as wardens, in problem areas for anti-social behaviour, including public transport, high streets or parks.

The increased presence is designed to help deter anti-social behaviour, step up enforcement action against offenders, make sure crimes are punished more quickly and drive deterrence efforts, helping to stop anti-social behaviour spiralling into more serious criminality.

Under the new immediate justice scheme, those found committing anti-social behaviour will be made to repair the damage they inflicted on victims and communities, with an ambition for them to start work as soon as 48 hours after their offence so victims know anti-social behaviour is treated seriously and with urgency.

Offenders, who will be made to wear hi-vis vests or jumpsuits and work under supervision, could be made to pick up litter, remove graffiti and wash police cars as punishment for their actions, and victims of anti-social behaviour from the local community will be given a say in offenders’ punishments to ensure justice is visible and fits the crime.

The trailblazers will be launched as soon as possible and follow research that shows anti-social behaviour is the main reason people do not feel safe in their local area, said the Prime Minister.

He added that under his zero-tolerance approach, nitrous oxide or ‘laughing gas’ will also be banned to send “a clear message to intimidating gangs, that hang around high streets and children’s parks and litter them with empty canisters, they will not get away with this behaviour”.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: “The British public are fed up with crime and nuisance behaviour in their neighbourhoods inflicting misery on people.

“There is no such thing as petty crime – not only does anti-social behaviour leave people feeling unsafe, it can also be a gateway into serious criminality.

“It has always been my priority to give police the powers they need to deliver a common-sense approach to cutting crime, which puts the law-abiding majority first, and that’s what this action plan delivers.”

Police will be given new powers to crack down on illegal drug use, often “a catalyst for other crimes”, including expanding powers for drug testing on arrest so more suspected criminals can be tested, and more drugs tested for, including ecstasy and methamphetamine.

“Currently, only suspected criminals who have committed certain offences can be tested in police detention without additional requirements, but we will expand the range of trigger offences to include crimes linked to violence against women and girls, serious violence and anti-social behaviour,” said the Government.

It will also engage with stakeholders on a potential new criminal offence to tackle ‘cuckooing’ or ‘home invasion’ by County Lines drugs gangs.

An anti-social behaviour task force, jointly led by the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, is also being considered, which will bring together police and crime commissioners (PCCs), police and local partners and agencies with a sole focus of addressing the issue and restoring pride in place in communities.

Deputy Chief Constable Andy Prophet, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for anti-social behaviour, said: “I welcome the focus on ASB highlighted by the launch of the Government’s national action plan.

“The plan recognises that only through working together can policing, local authorities and other agencies most effectively combat anti-social behaviour in our communities.

“In addition to the activity focused on ASB hotspots and faster, visible justice for offenders, a number of important issues linked to response to ASB will now be subject to wider, formal consultation. I look forward to seeing the outcome of that.”

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners joint local policing leads, Steve Turner and Jeff Cuthbert, said: “Anti-social behaviour has a devastating impact on victims and communities and we welcome many of the measures set out in today’s action plan.

“In terms of hotspot patrols and a new immediate justice service, new funding will enable PCCs to work with our chief constables and wider partners to target enforcement where it is most needed in our communities.

“Initially in ten trailblazer areas, we welcome the commitment to roll out to all police forces next year. We also welcome the recognition of partnership working and, in particular, the importance given to early intervention and diversionary work with young people.

“This plan recognises the fundamental role that PCCs play in bringing together partners and agencies to tackle issues in the community on behalf of the public. Tackling anti-social behaviour is a key priority highlighted in all police and crime plans in England and Wales and we will continue to work tirelessly to keep our communities safe.”

A new reporting tool will also be developed over the next 12 months to act as a digital ‘one-stop shop’ where people can report incidents of anti-social behaviour.  It will also give users access to advice and guidance on what to do next in their cases and receive updates on what action is being taken by police and councils following a report being logged.

“As well as giving the public confidence that action is being taken, the tool will help support local agencies to share information on perpetrators within their local area more effectively, so they can more quickly identify repeat offenders and take the necessary action to prevent future crimes from happening in the first place,” said the Government.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove said: “Anti-social behaviour erodes local pride, blights our high streets and parks and is a stain on too many communities across the country.

“We know that it is more likely to flourish in areas that have, for too long, been overlooked and undervalued.

“This government was elected on a mandate to deliver change for those communities, and that is why the Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan is critical. So we will intervene directly to prevent high street dereliction. We will deliver tougher, quicker and more visible justice to prevent thuggish behaviour in town centres and we will ensure young people have the opportunities and activities available to them to succeed – all backed by new investment.

“This is about acting on the people’s priorities, delivering safer streets so we can level up across the country.”

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer added: “I want every young person to have the opportunity to access the kinds of life-changing activities which expand their horizons and allow them to develop vital life skills.

“The National Youth Guarantee will provide these opportunities and support young people with access to regular club activities, adventures away from home and volunteering opportunities.

“We are supporting this today with an investment to create or renovate spaces for youth clubs and activities to support opportunities for thousands of young people across the country who would otherwise miss out.”

Other measures announced on Monday include increasing the punishment for those who graffiti, litter or fly-tip with fines of up to £500 and £1,000– with council league tables being published for fly-tipping

Landlords and housing associations will be given more powers to evict unruly tenants who ruin their neighbours’ lives through persistent noise or by being drunk and disorderly

And an extra one million hours of youth services will be put in place in areas with the highest rates of anti-social behaviour to “put people on the right track and prevent them from offending in the first place”.

The Government has also announced that an additional 43 youth centres are to benefit from the next £90 million investment from the Youth Investment Fund, distributed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. As a result, 45,000 more young people a year will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and regular, out-of-school activities, as part of an overall £300 million to be distributed through 2025.

The 16 pilot PCC areas for hotspot policing or immediate justice (or both) are: Northumbria, Cleveland, Derbyshire, Durham, Nottinghamshire, Merseyside, Sussex, Dorset, Northamptonshire, West Yorkshire, West Midlands, South Yorkshire, Essex, Lancashire, South Wales and Staffordshire.