QUICK fixes aren’t likely to prevent antisocial behaviour, but Barry Anderson, chief executive of Communities that Care, believes that “neighbourhoods can be transformed over time into safer and more cohesive communities”.
The charity’s Guide to Promising Approaches, supported by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, details schemes from the UK, US, Canada and Ireland that bring together family, school and community-based services to forestall the need for ASBOs. Examples include:
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What they say about Blair’s respect agenda
“We’ve had Action Zones and Trailblazer areas. These are just a regurgitation of things already in existence.”
Matt Foot, co-ordinator of campaign group ASBO Concern, in Regeneration and Renewal (Jan 13)
“A plea to politicians, police and other public servants: show us a bit of respect.”
Headline in The Independent (Jan 11)
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“If you discourage kids from getting into that first bit of bother, it stops them becoming involved in criminal activity down the line.”
Ken Livingstone, in The Guardian (Jan 11)
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“People who shout loudest will make use of it. People under stress in high crime areas are less likely to.”
Andy Mills, of the National Community Safety Network, in New Start (Jan 11)
“Short of bringing back the stocks, there’s not much more we could do.”
Les Carter, of Leeds County Council, says the powers to fight antisocial behaviour are already very strong, in The Economist (Jan 14)
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“We are very wary of housing officers being given summary powers. It changes the relationship with tenants.”
Tim Winter, of the Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group, says that new powers could subject housing officers to an increased risk of attack, in Inside Housing (Jan 13)
“All Tony (Blair) is doing is intensifying the illusion that he, Big Tone, is going to descend on your noisy neighbours and bang (troublemakers) away, or send them on parenting courses.”
Boris Johnson, in The Daily Telegraph (Jan 12)
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“I remind the Government that children’s rights are protected by the UN convention on human rights.”
Children’s commissioner Al Aynsley Green says that children are entitled to a right to meet in public, in The Guardian (Jan 11)