Blair announces new push on anti-social behaviour

Thursday, 28 October 2004 12:00 AM

The Prime Minister has promised that the Government will continue to refine and improve anti-social behaviour legislation to protect the "law abiding majority".

Tony Blair's comments came as he announced an expansion of anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) to 50 new areas.

New measures announced include extension of witness support in court - such as being able to give evidence by video link - to those appearing as witnesses in ASBO cases, and legislation to give parish and town councils powers to levy fixed penalty notices.

In a speech to a conference of council leaders and social workers on the anniversary of the Government's establishment of ASBOs, Mr Blair said that issue is all "about respect to other people and for decency and hard working families who play to the rules".

He said that such people are "angry and outraged at the feeling they'd lost control of their own communities and of their lives" - and that he is determined to help such people.

Countering criticisms that ASBOs just deal with surface issues, Mr Blair said that "some of the causes of this are deep rooted and difficult and will require a lot of working on over a number of years".

Mr Blair reeled of a list of actions the Government was taking to address some of these underlying problems, pointing to regeneration efforts in the inner cities and action on youth unemployment, and said that in response the Government demands that "everyone keeps to their side of the bargain".

It was the Government's job, he said, to ensure that "effective action" could be taken against those who refuse to behave properly, and give communities and police "powers to tip the balance firmly in favour of the law abiding majority."

Once the powers are in place, the Prime Minister said that: "The real challenge.is to use the powers and make sure the co-operation is there in local communities to ensure the powers are effective", adding that: "until action is taken in every community we can't rest.

"We will offer more help and support so that we can free every community from fear".

Outlining his three key priorities, the Prime Minister promised more support for vulnerable witnesses in civil courts, fast track justice and specialist courts to punish individuals quickly, and an extension of the fixed penalty notice system.

He promised to introduce new legislation at the "earliest possible time" to grant parish and town councils powers to levy fixed penalty notices for low level offences such as litter and graffiti.

On policing, Mr Blair said he was not seeking a return to a mythical "golden age", but he was determined to introduce community policing for the modern age. This would consist of dedicated neighbourhood policing teams and community support officers.

Mr Blair also countered the oft-heard criticism that rhetoric on anti-social behaviour portrays an unfair impression of young people, pointing out that it is young people themselves who are most often the victims of anti-social behaviour

Addressing his audience directly, Mr Blair insisted that the programme is one of "partnership and dialog", saying that he welcome feedback as to "what works and what doesn't". He promised to keep going back, revising and improving the legislation so that everyone in the country can be "safe, secure and above all proud".

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