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Press Release

POWER RANGERS COULD BATTLE BAD BEHAVIOUR

3 April 2007

A new super force to tackle anti-social behaviour could be created in Camden.

The dedicated team would deal exclusively with youth disorder, harassment issues, noise and any other form of anti-social behaviour on the borough's housing estates.

The squad of council staff is just one of the recommendations made in a new action plan - drawn-up following a review into anti-social behaviour last year, the first of its kind in the country.

Other recommendations include:

  • Re-looking at patrolling services to make sure they're working where the problems are happening. The public will be fully involved in any changes.
  • A trigger alert system for young people who are starting to show signs of getting into trouble, to nip problem behaviour in the bud. Anyone working with young people, from teachers to street wardens, will consistently flag up problems automatically to support workers.
  • A new web-based system for residents to report anti-social behaviour anonymously and find out about crime and anti-social behaviour in the area where they live.
  • Former drug addicts to visit schools and talk about their experiences of being a user to deter young people from taking drugs.
  • Get schools more involved in the community by allowing young people to use the school playground and outdoor facilities outside school hours.

The council has already made a major commitment to tackling the aggressive drugs market by funding 18 new Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) for Camden Town. In addition, the council is supporting police action to lobby for the use of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) that would see people caught with cannabis slapped with an £80 fine. The council hopes this would act as a stronger deterrent as opposed to the current warning issued to those caught with the Class C drug.

Cllr Ben Rawlings, Camden Council's Executive Member for Community Safety, said:

"We often hear talk of a more joined-up approach to tackling anti-social behaviour - but with this action plan we're actually doing it. This is a programme of work for the whole council and our partners, coordinating our approach across departments to make us more effective and responsive to residents."

Cllr Keith Moffitt, Leader of Camden Council, said:

"When the new joint administration took over in May last year we promised to fully take stock of anti-social behaviour in Camden to ensure we were tackling it in the most effective and responsible way. We promised to take action and this plan shows we are doing just that."

The action plan is due to be discussed by the Housing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee on April 12, 2007, and will then be submitted for agreement by the Executive Member for Community Safety on May 2, 2007.



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Camden Council

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