A New Approach to Anti-Social Behaviour in London

On 14 October 2003, the Prime Minister and Home Secretary outlined "Together", a nationwide campaign to accompany the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill, offering new powers and incentives to help local authorities deal with the issue of anti-social behaviour (ASB).

In an effort to help London's local authorities attain vision, co-ordination and make use of these new powers, the Government Office for London (GOL), the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the Metropolitan Police (MPS) have unified key players in the capital into an Anti-Social Behaviour Working Party.

Liz Meek, Regional Director for GOL said:

"This new pan London working group is innovative and exciting. It is not just about implementing new powers, and it also includes pulling together all of the regional agencies. This is to foster an atmosphere of collaboration, create a shared vision and support mechanisms for local authorities."

The Working Party understands very well the issues that are associated with work on ASB. These include partnerships and local groups working with different definitions of ASB, and the standards by which the problem is measured varying from authority to authority.

The Working Party sees its role in context with the national agenda, introduced by the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary. In London this will be aiming to help local authorities and partnerships through a regional strategy, and tackle the issues currently effecting ASB. These matters and key regional issues will be identified and resolved by undertaking research and consultation.

The group is very aware of addressing the particular needs of Londoners, and problems specific to the capital. In supporting those who work to tackle anti-social behaviour in local authorities, the strategy will advise London partnerships on matters such as IT development and good training opportunities.

Meetings have already started at GOL, to bring together the key stakeholders, who include the MPS, GLA, Association of London Government, the Housing Corporation, Transport for London and the London Fire Brigade.

More relevant groups will be included in future discussions, and it is hoped a strategy will be in place by early next year. Many relevant London agencies are keen to join the discussions, and each will contribute a different but useful range of expertise and experience.

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