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Attack bad behaviour, police told Turn tables on thugs, police told
(about 2 hours later)
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is expected to urge police later to target youths who ignore repeated warnings about their anti-social behaviour. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is urging police to target youths who ignore warnings about anti-social behaviour.
Individuals who persistently make their neighbours' lives a misery should be given "a taste of their own medicine", she will say. She said she intended to "turn the tables" on those who were harassing other people on a regular basis.
Ms Smith wants them to be subjected to repeated visits, checks and warnings. And she wants repeated visits, checks and warnings for people "who persistently aren't willing to live by the rules that the rest of us do".
Meanwhile, statistics are expected to show fewer anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) are being issued.Meanwhile, statistics are expected to show fewer anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) are being issued.
'Early intervention' The Home Office believes that the fall could be down to the wider use of "early intervention" procedures by local authorities, police and magistrates.
The Home Office believes that the fall could be due to the wider use of "early intervention" procedures by local authorities, police and magistrates.
These include acceptable behaviour contracts, parenting orders and individual support orders which aim to encourage better behaviour.These include acceptable behaviour contracts, parenting orders and individual support orders which aim to encourage better behaviour.
'Early intervention'
Ms Smith, speaking in Westminster to an audience of professionals who deal with anti-social behaviour, will announce £250,000 to fund an Action Squad which will encourage areas to better use such measures.Ms Smith, speaking in Westminster to an audience of professionals who deal with anti-social behaviour, will announce £250,000 to fund an Action Squad which will encourage areas to better use such measures.
Home Office figures suggest that two-thirds of those involved in anti-social behaviour - including vandalism, threatening behaviour and street drinking - abandon it after their first warning.Home Office figures suggest that two-thirds of those involved in anti-social behaviour - including vandalism, threatening behaviour and street drinking - abandon it after their first warning.
But Ms Smith will say 7% of individuals continue misbehaving even after three encounters with the authorities and that police should be paying particular attention to these repeat offenders.But Ms Smith will say 7% of individuals continue misbehaving even after three encounters with the authorities and that police should be paying particular attention to these repeat offenders.
Pilot operation The people who are being harassed are those people who want to live quietly in their communities and their streets Jacqui SmithHome Secretary
Their road tax, car insurance, TV licence and council tax payments should also be checked, she will add.Their road tax, car insurance, TV licence and council tax payments should also be checked, she will add.
She will urge forces across the country to follow the example of Essex police, who have mounted an operation to target those who repeatedly cause problems. The government wanted to ensure "that those people who want to live quietly and orderly in their communities, as the vast majority of us do, actually feel like they're in the majority", Ms Smith said ahead of the speech.
"The people who are being harassed are those people who want to live quietly in their communities and their streets," she told the BBC News Channel.
They "have to put up, from a very small minority, with the sort of behaviour that none of us should have to put up with", she added.
"Let's turn the tables on those people."
It was important that "those who disrupt them are the ones that are facing the difficulties, and where we're focusing our attention", she added.
Police intelligence
The home secretary will urge forces across the country to follow the example of Essex Police, who have mounted an operation to target those who repeatedly cause problems.
They used local intelligence to identify offenders, knocked on their doors and warned them their behaviour would not be tolerated.They used local intelligence to identify offenders, knocked on their doors and warned them their behaviour would not be tolerated.
They then photographed and questioned them and their friends over the next few days.They then photographed and questioned them and their friends over the next few days.
Officers reported "dramatic" results from the new approach.Officers reported "dramatic" results from the new approach.
On one estate, burglaries, criminal damage and car crime stopped altogether during the operation and remained at a low level afterwards.On one estate, burglaries, criminal damage and car crime stopped altogether during the operation and remained at a low level afterwards.