London Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy 2005-08

Report: 6
Date: 8 October 2004
By: Clerk

Summary

A draft London Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy has been produced by 11 cross-London agencies with shared responsibilities at a regional level for tackling anti-social behaviour - either directly or indirectly. The strategy is designed to provide a regional framework for action on anti-social behaviour, to bridge the gap between a national Anti-Social Behaviour strategy and the local programmes being implemented by London’s 33 crime and disorder reduction partnerships. The MPA has collaborated with other agencies in developing the strategy. Two earlier draft outlines have been circulated to members for comment in May and September of this year. This final version presents the specific actions that each agency, including the MPA, is proposing to contribute towards a pan-London plan of action. Individual agencies are currently being asked to sign-off the strategy. This report seeks Members approval for the MPA to be a signatory partner to the strategy.

A. Recommendations

That

1. the Committee agree the general principles and specific MPA actions contained in the draft London Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy shown as Appendix 1; and
2. agree that the MPA be a signatory partner to the strategy.

B. Supporting information

Introduction

1. The Metropolitan Police Authority has helped develop a London Anti Social Behaviour Strategy 2005/6-2007/8 (Appendix 1) along with other partners who have an interest in tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) at a regional level. This strategy is a collaboration between 11 cross-London agencies comprising the following partners: Association of London Government, British Transport Police, City of London, Government Office for London, Greater London Authority, Housing Corporation, London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority, Police, Metropolitan Police Service, Transport for London and the Youth Justice Board.

2. Local programmes of action are currently being developed and implemented by Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships. Most front-line work on ASB in London is carried out by these partnerships. However, London-wide agencies also have a role to play in relation to ASB by providing strategic direction, funding, training and support to local services if not certain front-line services too. The London strategy sets out the respective commitments of the signatory bodies to building on existing work in this area and to develop / implement new actions where necessary. Signatory bodies will also be committed to tackling ASB in a co-ordinated and effective way.

Methodology

3. The strategy was developed in a two-stage process. The first stage entailed discussion among the signatory agencies, and initial contact with CDRPs and other interested bodies, with the aim of producing a consultation document. The document ‘The London Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy: Proposals for Consultation with Stakeholders’ was circulated to MPA members for comment in April 2004. The second stage of strategy development involved the collection and analysis of responses to the consultation document and an assessment of the capacity and resources of partner bodies. The London strategy presented here represents the outcome of this process.

Strategy outline

4. As the signatories to this document, the MPA would have a shared vision on tackling ASB expressed by the principles (see Section 2) that

1. ASB must be tackled effectively.
2. Solutions to ASB must be long-term and sustainable.
3. Rigorous enforcement must be balance with prevention.
4. Enforcement measures are needed to respond to ASB that has occurred.
5. Preventive measures are needed to stop ASB occurring in the first place.
6. Measures to tackle ASB must be consistent with human rights legislation, including the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child.
7. Remedies for ASB must promote, rather than undermine, social inclusion.
8. The ability to celebrate a diversity of lifestyles is the hallmark of a civilised city.

5. The London ASB strategy does not aim to direct or ‘performance manage’ local activity. The strategy is not even intended to chart the totality of local and regional work. Rather, it is about supporting and helping to co-ordinate local effort and filling in the gaps in provision through regional programmes of action. The strategy is a three-year programme, starting from 1 April 2005 and coincides with the timetable for production of Crime and Disorder Strategies by CDRPs. On this basis, the key objectives and actions (see Sections 3, 4 and 5) are as follows:

Objective 1: To energise and support local action by CDRPs and their partners

MPA Specific Actions:

1. MPA members sitting on CDRPs will seek to ensure that local community safety strategies reflect ASB priorities in the London Police Plan and the priorities of the London ASB strategy (2005-8).

Objective 2: To improve co-ordination and co-operation between local agencies and partnerships

MPA Specific Actions:

1. The MPA, MPS, GOL and GLA to collaborate to develop guidance on data-related issues, for example on how to record and measure ASB incidents, the management of case work information, general performance measurement and monitoring and evaluation of specific ASB initiatives (2006).
2. MPA/MPS to ensure that the new Safer Neighbourhood policing teams fully engage with local communities and agencies in identifying and tackling ASB issues (2006).
3. To develop a Community Engagement Strategy to promote the involvement of local people and businesses in the policing of ASB. To ensure that the diversity agenda is addressed as part of this work (2005).

Objective 3: To supplement local action with cross-London work, where this is needed

MPA Specific Actions:

1. MPA/MPS to establish safer neighbourhood teams across London which will engage in focused, community–based policing. The teams will work in partnership with local communities and agencies, and will identify and tackle those issues that are causing greatest concern (2006).

Objective 4: To ensure consistency and sustainability in policy responses to ASB across London

MPA Specific Actions:

1. All signatories to assess the extent to which the cross-London agencies’ work on ASB is consistent with the principles of the London ASB strategy (2006).
2. All signatories to ensure that the work on ASB of the cross-London agencies does not conflict with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (2005-8).

Objective 5: To identify regional structures for tackling ASB

MPA Specific Actions: None specific.

MPS Contribution to the London ASB strategy

For members’ information, the actions outlined in the Implementation Plan (Section 5) referring to the MPS, include: using the MPS role on CDRPs to ensure action on ASB is prioritised (Obj. 1); involvement in multi-agency training, the exchange and collation of information on ASB initiatives, the development of a practitioners forum, leading on a multi-agency project on Anti Social Behaviour Order training, collecting and reviewing data on ASB incidents from all boroughs (Obj. 2); and collaboration with Transport for London and British Transport Police on transport related strategies and initiatives (Obj. 3). These are in addition to those actions above linked to MPA actions.

Approval of Strategy

The project team that has developed this strategy is hoping that no major amendments are needed at this stage but will incorporate minor changes and re-publish the final version once completed. They are also hoping agencies can sign-off this version by October 11 2004. Members are asked to approve the MPA signing up to this strategy.

C. Race and equality impact

No adverse impact is forecast from the MPA signing up to this strategy. The effective co-ordination and response to anti-social behaviour will help promote better relations between individuals within communities as well as between different community groups themselves. Many forms of harassment fall within the definition of anti-social behaviour although racial, sexual and other prejudicial forms of harassment may be more specifically dealt with in other focused strategies and through criminal procedures.

D. Financial implications

The actions proposed fall within the anticipated work programmes of different units within the MPA and so no additional resources are required. The MPA provides £50,000 to each borough command unit for partnership activity. Some boroughs are already using this funding opportunity for ASB initiatives.

E. Background papers

‘The London Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy: Proposals for Consultation with Stakeholders’

F. Contact details

Report author: Jude Sequeira, Partnerships Officer

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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