Crime & Anti-Social Behaviour

Anti-Social Behaviour damages communities. One of the achievements of the Scottish Parliament from 2000-7 was to begin to tackle this problem. Anti-Social Behaviour orders, Dispersal Notices, Closure Orders, and action on underage drinking were some of the measures made available to courts, police and local authorities to address the issue. Local authorities were given dedicated cash for example, to appoint neighbourhood wardens; police were encouraged to appoint more community officers and keep them on the streetsand not rotate them into other posts too quickly. Licensing boards were given new powers to tackle over-provision of licensed premises in their areas and test purchasing orders clamped down on underage buying of alcohol. New powers to issue fixed penalty notices allowed local authorities to better tackle litter and dog fouling. Noise nuisance has been taken more seriously and private housing officers appointed to help tackle problems created by private tenants. Courts were encouraged to impose stiffer penalties for knife crime, and victims given new rights within the courts system.

But there is still more to do, and my current campaigning priorities in the area of anti-social behaviour are listed below.

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Wendy Calls for Community Inspired ASBO’s