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Addressing anti-social behaviour incidents/complaints sooner rather later should lead to fewer complaints and cut the cost of dealing with follow-up incidents.

Targeted work with young people at risk of offending can save on later, more costly interventions.

Other measures – e.g. incorporating security into new housing developments may well be cost neutral.

Where measures do require resources, the case for investment can be strengthened by:

• Demonstrating public concern/demand, e.g. as measured in local or national surveys.

(Link to HO Research Findings 83: Concern about crime)

• Demonstrating the impact the issue has on staff.

(Clarke and Mayhew 1998 cite one survey of workers at a regional hospital when nearly 70% of the 1,000 respondents expressed fear of being a victim of assault or abusive behaviour at Accident & Emergency Departments

• Demonstrating wider benefits (e.g. impact on property values)

• Making links with other local and national policy objectives, e.g.

• Youth inclusion

• Neighbourhood renewal

• School attainment

• School attendance

• Access to/take up of further education or training.

Making these links may help to open avenues to a wider range of funding sources.

Spending Review 2000 (http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/spending_review/spending_review_2000/spend_sr00_index.cfm) has provided funding to support local anti-social initiatives in areas with a significant problem.

Other relevant strands of the crime reduction programme can be found at: http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/cri_index.htm