What is anti-social behaviour? How does the government tackle it? And what would you do to tackle it?

Anti-social behaviour can be dealt with by contacting the local authority who can apply to a court for an order to stop or prevent violent antisocial behaviour in its area, apply to a court for an order to stop public nuisance, which includes drug-dealing or take action to evict the person responsible for the behaviour, if they are a local authority tenant. The police can also help prevent any antisocial behaviour. The police can issue on the spot fines (fixed penalty notices) for some types of antisocial behaviour, such as littering and dog fouling or offensive behaviour at or near a football match. The police have powers to seize and retain vehicles if the owner has been driving in such a way as to cause alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public. The police can also apply for a court order to close down properties where there has been serious or persistent antisocial behaviour. Entering the property will then become an offence and the property will be sealed. These closure orders are likely to be used in a number of situations, for example where properties are used as drinking dens, for drug dealing or prostitution and there is a high degree of disruption and disorder as a result.

The majority of people who have an anti-social behavioural order are usually in their teens and early twenties suggesting that it may be issues at home that cause people to participate in anti-social crimes. One way I feel would be a beneficial way of dealing this would be to introduce a system where families who have proven issues with anti-social behaviour gain “counciling” that will help discover the root of the issue and help them get round it. This way the main issue can be eradicated and issue of anti-social behaviour can hopefully be dealt with efficiently.