ACS

Figures released in a parliamentary answer to the Tories yesterday revealed there were 3.9million incidents of antisocial behaviour reported in England and Wales in 2007/8, with 388,000 offences in London alone.

But the British Crime Survey found just 11 per cent of victims report an incident, making the likely national total 35million. The figure breaks down to more than 95,000 antisocial incidents a day, almost 4,000 an hour or 66 every minute.

The types of offences include youth and gang-related nuisance; vandalism and damage to property; drug nuisance and dealing; prostitution and kerb crawling; dog and animal nuisance; harassment and intimidation; and litter, rubbish and fly-tipping. Comparison figures for previous years are not available.

Many law and order specialists believe low-level antisocial behaviour opens society up to more serious crimes if not tackled properly.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling said: “Antisocial behaviour is blighting communities up and down the country and the Home Secretary seems to have no idea what to do about it. We’ve seen initiative after initiative but nothing they try has made any real difference.

“People want to see something done to tackle a problem that is disrupting huge numbers of lives but all we’re getting from ministers are warm words with no action.”

Among the most high-profile measures brought in by Labour are antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs), which ban offenders from certain areas and threaten them with jail if they carry on committing offences. But a recent study found that ASBOs are often seen as “badges of honour” by teenagers and almost half of orders are breached by under-18s.

ACS is running a Crime Prevention Forum on Tuesday 10th February which will discuss crime prevention techniques, crime partnerships with local groups and authorities and for the first time an MP will speak at the forum. Philip Dunne MP, Chair of the Conservative Retail Crime Commission, which was set up to develop Conservative Party Policy in the area of crime prevention, will share with the forum the Commission’s current thinking and ask for retailer’s experiences regarding retail crime.

To attend the forum at the Madejski Stadium in Reading email Sarah C Johnson or ring her on 01252 515001.