The majority of residents in Cannock Chase treat others as they would like to be treated themselves. But there is always a small minority of individuals, whose anti-social behaviour makes other people’s lives a misery.
This is why anti-social behaviour is something that constituents often bring to my attention from across of Cannock Chase.
To help tackle this issue for my constituents, I raise these reports with our local policing teams, local authorities and our Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
No one should have to live in fear of intimidation from their neighbours or gangs of teenagers causing trouble in a town centre or local park. In addition, these areas should not be littered with empty nitrous oxide canisters and women and girls should feel safe walking alone at night. I therefore warmly welcome the new Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan unveiled by the Government aimed at tackling these concerns.
For so many residents anti-social behaviour is not a low level crime. It is far more than a nuisance and can ruin communities. More action is needed to help stamp out anti-social behaviour once and for all and to ensure everyone in Cannock Chase treats their fellow residents with respect.
This Action Plan will see anti-social behaviour treated with the urgency it deserves by bringing in 'hotspot policing' to target the worst affected areas. It means we will have more police and more uniformed officers tackling the most prolific offenders. We will also introduce a new approach called 'Immediate Justice' to make perpetrators repair the damage they have done. They will be forced to pick up litter, wash police cars or clean up graffiti within as little as 48 hours of being caught.
There will also be a zero-tolerance approach to other issues that blight our communities, including cracking down on illegal drugs. We are going to ban nitrous oxide and increase the use of drug testing on arrest. We will expand not only the types of drugs which police test for, but also the situations where tests are used to include anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls. In addition, we will make it easier to evict tenants who are persistently disrespectful and disruptive to their neighbours, and we will bring in new tools to help those living on the streets access specialist care and support.
The plan will also grant police and other agencies the tools they need to act and restore pride in our communities. We will increase the amount of on-the-spot fines for litter, graffiti and fly-tipping and seek to increase their use. Councils will also be given new funding to restore local parks and greater powers to revive their high streets by bringing empty shops back into use. We will also provide more help for young people to find positive ways to focus their energies, including one million extra hours of youth support in hotspot areas.
This plan is very welcome and helps tackle issues of anti-social behaviour which constituents regularly raise with me.
As always, if you require my help with anything at all please do not hesitate to contact me via e-mail at amanda.milling.mp@parliament.uk or by telephone on 01543 877142.
