We have put in place powerful tools to tackle disorder, including the new power to close premises where there is persistent antisocial behaviour which commences on 1 December. We have also launched the new antisocial behaviour squad to help local agencies make best use of the full range of tools and powers to tackle perpetrators who persist in antisocial behaviour.
(2) what assessment she has made of the use of the powers available to address antisocial behaviour;
(3) what future steps the Government plan to take to prevent antisocial behaviour.
No one should have to put up with antisocial behaviour. I want communities to know that the Government are firmly on their side and are turning the tables on those who persistently make others' lives a misery.
We have put in place powerful tools to tackle antisocial behaviour. Three independent reports including the Home Affairs Select Committee report (2005), the Audit Commission report (May 2006) and the NAO report (December 2006) have confirmed that they work. Indeed the NAO reported that 65 per cent. of people stop committing antisocial behaviour after intervention one rising to 93 per cent. after intervention three. Latest figures available show that local agencies across the country used these tools and powers available to tackle antisocial behaviour more than 16,000 times between April and June 2008.
People's fear of antisocial behaviour has fallen. The British Crime Survey shows a reduction in the proportion of people with a high level of perceived antisocial behaviour from 21 per cent. in 2002-03 to 16 per cent. in 2007-08.
Successful delivery of any local antisocial behaviour strategy depends on effective partnership working through Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships. To assist this work, the Home Office has renewed the funding for antisocial behaviour co-ordinators for the period 2008-11 and created powerful tools to tackle disorder, including the new power to close premises where there is persistent antisocial behaviour. This new power will commence on 1 December and the statutory guidance sets out the obligations on the police and local authorities to consult each other and the advisability of consulting others. We have also launched the new antisocial behaviour squad to help local agencies make best use of the full range of tools and powers to tackle perpetrators who persist in antisocial behaviour. Furthermore we are consulting the public on antisocial behaviour on public transport.