Polling carried out prior to the PCC elections identified anti-social behaviour (ASB) as the top concern for voters, with 71 per cent suggesting ASB be included as one of the PCC's top three priorities. This was matched by polling of PCC candidates, 69 per cent of whom declared that ASB would be their top priority.
The successful tackling of ASB, through enforcement, prevention and intervention, is best undertaken in partnership. Here, Julian Commons, ASB Manager for Cornwall County Council, describes the processes and successes of their integrated partnership approach to tackling ASB in challenging communities.
Context
Cornwall has a dedicated anti-social behaviour team that operates across the county offering a service that puts the victim at the centre of any investigation. Working out of police stations across Cornwall, the five ASB case investigators work to the same procedures to provide a consistent frontline service across the county.
ASB case workers not only work with victims providing support and advice based on individual risk, but also work with partners in enforcing such legal measures like Drink Banning Orders, Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and premises/crack house closures.
What are we doing to prevent ASB?
ASB caseworkers operate a preventative staged ASB warning process on individuals who commit acts of ASB. Warning recipients are monitored for a period of up to six months to check that they have reduced or stopped their behaviour.
The three-stage escalation process (warning letter/Acceptable Behaviour Contract/Anti-Social Behaviour Order) has historically proven effective in managing anti-social behaviour issues, especially for young people.
In 2011/12, 80 per cent of young people and 68 per cent of adults who received a warning/intervention from the anti-social behaviour team did not come to the attention of the team for the following three months.
Some examples of how ASB prevention reduces calls to the police
One of the many benefits of effective ASB intervention and prevention is the marked decrease it can have on calls to the police. In times of resource and financial pressure, using cost effective prevention not only saves money in the costs of calling the police and police attendance, but also frees-up police resources to deal with other calls. Some examples are:
- In East Cornwall, an individual was reported 12 times to police in a three-month period for abusive behaviour. An Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC) was issued and there were no calls for three months after the ABC was issued.
- In East Cornwall one individual had made 40 spurious calls to police in a 12-month period up to April 2012. An ASB warning was issued by ASB case workers and police and the calls went to zero. However, a further eight calls were made from July to October 2012 so an Acceptable Behaviour Contract was agreed with the same individual; to date there have been no further calls to the police.
- A persistent alcohol-related ASB offender in West Cornwall was issued a Drink Banning Order (DBO) for his/her behaviour under the influence of alcohol. The police received 15 calls three months prior to the DBO being issued. This reduced to four calls for a three-month period after the DBO was issued.
- An individual on a West Cornwall Housing Estate was reported to police 17 times previous to a Stage two ASB warning being served for causing general nuisance and ASB. For the three-month period after the warning was issued there were only four calls made to police about the same individual.
Effective use of enforcement powers and legislation
Cornwall Council ASB caseworkers also use legal powers to tackle anti-social behaviour. This has involved:
- the first successful use of the Inebriates Act 1898 (in Camborne, March 2012) that makes it an offence for a habitual drunkard to purchase or attempt to purchase alcohol. Use of the Act is being explored to tackle persistent, nuisance drunks for whom other forms of intervention have been ineffective or inappropriate and links them directly into appropriate support
- seven premises closures
- one crack house closure
- ten Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, including the first obtained on a nuisance 999 caller
- twenty-eight Drink Banning Orders.
Positive action in the community
In addition ASB case workers look to proactively work in communities to address local issues and provide re-assurance. This work has included:
- two deployable wireless CCTV cameras purchased, to be mounted in rural areas showing greatest need. First wireless CCTV permanent mounting point in Torpoint to assist in reducing late night disorder and anti-social behaviour
- mid-Cornwall nuisance vehicles project delivered with the Vehicle Operator and Services Agency (VOSA)
- joint initiative tackling disorder on public transport with British Transport Police
- over 2 500 community safety bulletins distributed in local communities advising them of what action has been taken in their area to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Cornwall Council's ASB team have a deep understanding of the full range of various ASB problems that blight their communities and impact on their residents and therefore, with partners, use the full suite of tools and powers at their disposal to deal with these.
Devon and Cornwall's new PCC, Tony Hogg, told residents recently that he would look to broaden partnerships to include the voluntary and community sector. He said:
"Communities are going to have to play their part more and start owning their towns and villages. I want them to say 'this is my town and we are simply not going to put up with anti-social behaviour or graffiti'."
The strong partnerships established across the county, working with local people to tackle local issues, will be key to empowering communities in the manner the PCC describes.