Manchester’s success in tackling anti-social behaviour

Manchester City Council is sending out thousands of booklets throughout the city publicising its integrated approach to anti-social behaviour.

The City Council - recognised as one of the leading local authorities in the UK in tackling anti-social behaviour - wants to highlight its multi-layered approach to tackling the issue, balancing enforcement with prevention and support work.

The Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services for Manchester City Council, Councillor Eddy Newman, said: "We've been extremely successful in tackling anti-social behaviour - and recent research shows that the people of Manchester perceive a reduction in anti-social behaviour.

"But while we will continue to take an uncompromising approach to this issue, we also want to show the range of work that's being done to prevent anti-social behaviour, dealing with the problem at its roots, and creating an environment where people feel safe and where families who need help and support can get it."

The booklet points out that anti-social behaviour orders have prevented further offending in more than half of all cases. More than 660 individuals have been subjected to ASBOs in Manchester since they were introduced at the start of the decade.

Warning interviews with youths about their anti-social behaviour have also been extremely successful. The vast majority of young people who receive a formal warning change their behaviour, with very few going on to the ASBO stage.

But while anti-social behaviour involves people of all ages, the booklet explains that most of the city's preventative work deals with young people, with the aims of stopping anti-social behaviour becoming more serious and of preventing misbehaving youngsters from drifting into a criminal lifestyle.

As well as warning interviews and ASBOs, there are a range of other methods and legal tools for preventing anti-social behaviour - including parenting contracts, parenting classes and tip sheets; introductory and starter tenancies; action against aggressive begging; injunctions, dispersal orders, and individual support orders for juvenile offenders; environmental measures and campaigns, a pro-social behaviour strategy that engages with community groups to promote mutual respect and pride, activities for young people, especially during the evenings, and projects such as Greater Manchester Fire Service's Firefly scheme.

The City Council has taken advantage of this scheme, where young people on the fringes of anti-social behaviour work alongside firefighters to develop self-esteem and respect for others.

The City Council also runs an extensive mediation service, using trained volunteers to work with neighbours to resolve less serious disputes such as over hedges, car parking and noise.

The booklet also outlines how the City Council works with a range of other agencies, including the police, housing associations and residents groups, through local action partnerships (LAPs), local tasking meetings, and area casework panels, where a range of agencies work to resolve severe anti-social behaviour.

Also listed are the City Council's Tenancy Support Plus project, working intensively with families with a history of anti-social behaviour; the Youth Offending Team, which has a parenting and prevention team supporting young people who have - or are at risk of receiving - an ASBO; and the Foundations Project, run for the City Council by the national charity, NCH, and which provides residential and outreach intensive support for families at risk of losing their homes because of their behaviour.

"The work we do with families often goes unreported but it is absolutely crucial that we deal with anti-social behaviour at its roots if we are to make a real difference to the lives of people in this city," said Councillor Newman.

"In a very real way we are helping to regenerate the city by helping families change their behaviour and to live co-operatively with their neighbours. We all benefit from this just as much as we benefit from bricks and mortar regeneration."

He added: "We feel it is important that we inform Manchester's residents of the successful work that is going on in the city. Manchester is a great city and we want people to enjoy living here in peace and safety. We have been successful in tackling anti-social behaviour, however we know our job isn't finished and we still have lots more work to do".

The booklet, which is being distributed to libraries, health centres, tenants and residents' associations, housing offices and LAPs, shows people how to find out more about its integrated approach to tackling anti-social behaviour.

Questions about the contents of the booklet can be emailed to mailto:asb@manchester.gov.uk. There is also a reminder on how to report anti-social behaviour by phoning the On Call number, 03000 112211, or if it is environmental anti-social behaviour such as fly-tipping and graffiti, by calling (0161) 954 9000.

For more information about the City Council's parenting strategy, people are advised to visit the City Council's website, then click on the link to Children's Services, then Parenting.

Media contact:

Martin Hellewell, tel 0161 234 3729.