Experience proves that ASBO laws work

Published on Friday 10 November 2006 02:07

JUST over two years ago we introduced new powers to tackle the scourge of antisocial behaviour across Scotland.

This has been a fundamental part of our drive to make Scotland a safer place to live and work - a drive that is delivering results.

There were 20,000 fewer crimes recorded by the police in Scotland last year. Housebreaking is now around half the level it was in 1997, while serious violent crime is at its lowest level since devolution, with 1,000 fewer victims last year.

Scots are safer in their homes and on the streets, while police clear-up rates remain at historically high levels.

However, we are not complacent and remain determined to further reduce crime and so-called "lower-level" disorder across our country.

As part of that effort, police and local authorities have been given new powers - backed by very significant resources - under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2004.

We are providing 130 million between 2004 and 2008 to tackle ASB and promote community safety - money that pays for services right across the country, including 550 community wardens, antisocial behaviour teams, mediation and support to victims and witnesses.

As well as tackling disorder where it occurs, we are also acting to tackle the underlying causes of such behaviour.

This Executive has done more than any other to bring employment and regeneration to disadvantaged neighbourhoods - having, for example, invested 318 million to improve the prospects of disadvantaged neighbourhoods through our Community Regeneration Fund.

By the end of 2004, every council area in Scotland had at least one community warden team working with local people in hard-pressed neighbourhoods to prevent and tackle antisocial behaviour, and improve the local environment.

Every council area in Scotland now has either an antisocial behaviour unit or an antisocial co-ordinator whose role is to investigate antisocial behaviour cases and take action where it's needed.

Of course, there were people who opposed this policy from the outset and claimed that antisocial behaviour was not a priority issue.

Well, that's not what we heard at the time from communities and individuals across Scotland.

And two years on, we're increasingly seeing how our focus on antisocial behaviour is transforming lives the length and breadth of our country.

As we have continued to make clear, we are not in the business of setting specific targets for measures to be used but we do expect all of the various measures provided through the act to be used where appropriate to tackle local problems.

So I make no apology for continuing to raise awareness of successes across the country and to urge local agencies to tackle this matter in an effective, consistent and appropriate way.

Since the legislation came into force, 12 dispersal orders have been used to break up patterns of antisocial behaviour and bring relief to communities across Scotland.

Just over 20 neighbourhoods have seen some respite from the antisocial actions of individuals and families thanks to closure orders, while 170 "boy-racers" have had their vehicles seized and over 1,900 have been warned about their actions.

Nearly 2,000 households have received some much-needed peace thanks to warnings issued to neighbours for noise nuisance, with 118 fixed-penalty notices handed down to the worst culprits.

By March this year, over 3,000 fines had been handed out in Tayside during a pilot of fixed-penalty notices for antisocial behaviour. And over the past 12 months we have seen far more of these and other measures than in the first 12 months since the act commenced.

Beyond the headline figures, I and my colleague, the deputy justice minister, Hugh Henry, have spoken to many people about how these measures have made a real difference to their lives.

To the doubters, I say listen to the people of Dingwall, Dennistoun or Mid Calder about how dispersal zones have helped bring respite to their communities.

Or speak to the residents in those communities who have been given rapid respite and relief following the use of closure orders to shut down premises at the centre of intimidation, noise or disorder.

Talk with those people who met us at Holyrood yesterday and told how the new powers have changed their lives and communities for the better - whether through dispersal orders, closure orders, ASBOs on conviction, or action to end noise nuisance.

The actions of ordinary residents - now working more closely with local ASB teams and the police - are helping to restore a culture of respect in communities up and down the country and are helping us all to build a safer, stronger Scotland.

We promised the people of Scotland there would be action. We meant it. And we have delivered. It's now up to local agencies to use these powers on behalf of decent people in decent communities, right across Scotland.

• Cathy Jamieson is Scottish Executive justice minister.