Plans to tackle anti-social conduct

May 8 2008

Officials from housing benefits officers to TV licence inspectors are to be enlisted in the fight against anti-social behaviour, under plans unveiled by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.

In a keynote speech in London, Ms Smith called for "better joined up working" by the police, local councils and other statutory authorities to expose the wider criminal activities of the most persistent offenders.

She said the small core of troublemakers who cause the most problems would face checks for benefit and council tax fraud, television licence evasion and vehicle insurance dodging.

"People shouldn't have to put up with anti-social behaviour. We have put in place the teams, the powers and the know-how so that every community benefits from effective action that works," she said.

"The Government is firmly on the side of communities where people have had enough and there will be no escape for persistent offenders.

"If you can't behave properly it won't just be the police watching you, but local councils, housing benefit officers, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and the TV Licensing authority."

Ms Smith pointed to Essex Police's Operation Leopard, which had a 100% success rate in tackling repeat offenders, as an example of what could be achieved.