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Harass young thugs, police urged Harass young thugs, police urged
(19 minutes later)
Youths who persistently misbehave and intimidate others in their communities should be harassed themselves, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has said. Youths who persistently misbehave and intimidate others in their communities should be "harassed themselves", Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has said.
She said she wanted police to "turn the tables" on those who were violent and disruptive and who would not "live by the rules that the rest of us do".She said she wanted police to "turn the tables" on those who were violent and disruptive and who would not "live by the rules that the rest of us do".
This could include repeated home visits and checks to identify benefit fraud or council and road tax non-payment.This could include repeated home visits and checks to identify benefit fraud or council and road tax non-payment.
There could be "no excuse for inaction" while people lived in fear, she added.There could be "no excuse for inaction" while people lived in fear, she added.
Meanwhile, statistics are expected to show fewer anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) are being issued. Meanwhile, the number of anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) issued in England and Wales has fallen by a third, according to Home Office figures.
The Home Office believes that the fall could be down to the wider use of "early intervention" procedures by local authorities, police and magistrates. In all 2,706 orders were granted in 2006, the most recent period for which statistics are available, compared to 4,123 in 2005.
These include acceptable behaviour contracts, parenting orders and individual support orders which aim to encourage better behaviour. There were proportionally more breaches of Asbos in 2006, however: 49%, whereas the total for 2000 to 2005 was 47%.
'Early intervention''Early intervention'
Ms Smith, speaking in Westminster to an audience of professionals who deal with anti-social behaviour, announced £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, announced £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 7% of individuals continued misbehaving even after three encounters with the authorities - "still too many", Ms Smith said - and police should be paying particular attention to these repeat offenders.But 7% of individuals continued misbehaving even after three encounters with the authorities - "still too many", Ms Smith said - and police should be paying particular attention to these repeat offenders.
She said she wanted to ensure "the tables were turned on offenders so that those who harass our communities are themselves harried and harassed".
The people who are being harassed are those people who want to live quietly in their communities and their streets Jacqui SmithHome SecretaryThe 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 added add. Those who were being anti-social should also have their road tax, car insurance, TV licence and council tax payments checked, she added.
"That car of theirs: is the tax up to date? Is it insured? Let's find out."That car of theirs: is the tax up to date? Is it insured? Let's find out.
"And have they got a TV licence for that plasma screen? As the advert says, it's all on the database."And have they got a TV licence for that plasma screen? As the advert says, it's all on the database.
"And as for the council tax, it shouldn't be difficult to check whether or not that's been paid. And what about benefit fraud? Can we run a check?"And as for the council tax, it shouldn't be difficult to check whether or not that's been paid. And what about benefit fraud? Can we run a check?
"If persistent offenders know that they'll be able to get away with it, then they will, by definition, persistently offend," Ms Smith said. "They will try it on again and again."If persistent offenders know that they'll be able to get away with it, then they will, by definition, persistently offend," Ms Smith said. "They will try it on again and again.
"We need to send them a strong message that we're not having it, there's no room for that sort of behaviour in our communities and that there are tough sanctions for it.""We need to send them a strong message that we're not having it, there's no room for that sort of behaviour in our communities and that there are tough sanctions for it."
Police intelligencePolice intelligence
She also called for greater help for parents "who struggle to keep their kids under control" and an automatic requirement for courts to consider granting a parenting order - aimed at parents who would not cooperate - whenever they issued an Asbo to a young person.She also called for greater help for parents "who struggle to keep their kids under control" and an automatic requirement for courts to consider granting a parenting order - aimed at parents who would not cooperate - whenever they issued an Asbo to a young person.
Ahead of her speech, Ms Smith had said 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".Ahead of her speech, Ms Smith had said 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".
Figures are expected to show a fall in the number of Asbos issued The proportion of Asbo breaches has risen, although fewer are being issued
"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."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.
The home secretary urged forces across the country to follow the example of Essex Police, who have mounted an operation to target those who repeatedly cause problems.The home secretary urged 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. "Dramatic" results from the new approach included burglaries, criminal damage and car crime stopping altogether on one estate during the operation and staying 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. "Those responsible for anti-social behaviour had no room for manoeuvre and nowhere to hide," Ms Smith said of the operation.
Asbo figures
Regarding the drop in the number of Asbos issued, the Home Office believes this could be down 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.
But Martin Narey, the chief executive of children's charity Barnardo's, said each Asbo issued was "a sign of failure".
The government needed to introduce methods of "constructive intervention" rather than having an "over-reliance on anti-social behaviour orders on their own", he added.
"It is important that government panic over their polling unpopularity does not usher a return to Asbo mania."