They are subjected to anti-social
behaviour
Often, anti-social behaviour
(ASB) doesn’t constitute criminal acts, but it still
contributes to a marked decline in the quality of life for
both communities and individuals. ASB can also create a
climate for fear and intimidation which is the perfect
breeding ground for fear of crime and also crime. Visit
http://www.together.gov.uk/
to find out how practitioners are working together to reduce
anti-social behaviour in their area.
Suggested
interventions:
-
Partnerships need to try and prevent ASB by
tackling it at its roots, but at the same time they also
need to be able to deal quickly with the damage and
degeneration it causes to the local environment. See our
section on the
Environment for more
information.
-
The anti-social behaviour toolkit on the
Crime Reduction website contains a great deal of advice and
information about dealing with the problem of ASB and
explores in detail the links between anti-social behaviour
and fear of crime. Visit
http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/toolkits/as00.htm
for more details
-
CDRPs should work with schools in their local
area to educate young people about anti-social behaviour its
affects on others particularly vulnerable groups. The DFES
have included a “Good Citizen Programme” within the national
curriculum to develop the social awareness of young people.
Visit the website at
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/citizenship.
-
Wardens and the extended police family have a
key role to play in tackling ASB. Professional witnesses and
wardens can play their part in collating, presenting and
helping to enforce the processes.
-
The policies of local councils and housing
associations, especially relating to their lettings policy,
is crucial in retaining a level of information social
control which will keep low level disorder down.
This links in with the Social Control Model, where established
norms of behaviour within communities can be either
self-policing in a socially cohesive neighbourhood or where
the community is non-cohesive these norm constantly decline
with low level disorder leading on to more serious crime being
the norm.
|
