Midlands: Antisocial behaviour

Geoff Maskell
Politics Show Midlands

Your comments on Antisocial behaviour

Tough on crime, but what about the causes of crime? Has the government forgotten the last half of its famous slogan?

Playing with fire?

Parts of the Midlands have enthusiastically embarrassed the government's drive to crack down on anti social behaviour.

Almost 1 in 5 Anti Social Behaviour Orders passed nationwide have been brought by just two local police forces, West Midlands and West Mercia.

But has enforcement replaced efforts to tackle the underlying causes of neighbourhood disputes with less attention being given to mediation services, youth work and mental health problems.

Better parenting topped a recent poll from the charity Rethinking Crime & Punishment as the best method of tackling anti social behaviour.

It was closely followed by more police, better schools and constructive activities for the young.

More punishment rated only seventh on their list. Rob Allen Director of Rethinking Crime and Punishment said;

Youth work, social services and housing departments could play a key role, but often lack the resources to respond quickly to problem behaviour.

With mental disorder a factor in many cases, health services could also play an important role.

We need investment in rapid response capacity for their agencies rather than seeing the police as the only key to tackling anti social behaviour.

An example of progress

Politics Show Midlands visits an estate where despite taking action against problem residents local people say things are now worse than ever.

The estate had become a symbol of some of the worst features of post war housing estates;

• high unemployment
• soaring crime figures
• chronic public health problem
• and low educational attainment.

For drivers on the M6 just south of Birmingham, Castle Vale was that vision of all that was wrong with high-rise living.

But now Castle Vale is a model of how even the most notorious sink estates can be regenerated.

Most of the tower blocks have gone and in their place more than 1000 new homes have been built and a further 1200, refurbished.

Over 1300 jobs and 2,500 training places have been created, but at a cost!

Over £200m of public and private money.

Have you experienced anti social behaviour?

Has the Government forgotten about being tough on the causes of crime?

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