Anti-Social Behaviour White Paper

Applicable to: England and Wales

In 2003, the Home Office issued a White Paper on anti-social behaviour. The Paper calls for a shift in societal culture whereby individuals respect each other and each other's property, and states that certain changes are needed if anti-social behaviour is to be addressed:

individuals should take responsibility for their actions and should not carry out behaviour that intimidates of harasses others;
provision of interventions and support to parents and children whose behaviour is having a negative impact on other people's lives;
the police and other local authorities are to enforce community standards of behaviour; and
perpetrators are to account for their actions.

The White Paper notes the introduction of, for example, Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs), Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs), Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) and the Licensing Act (2003) to tackle anti-social behaviour.

It also highlights the importance of early identification of children who are at risk of either offending or committing anti-social behaviour through programmes such as Sure Start. For those families who do not or are unable to respond, alternative measures are available such as:

providing intensive fostering rather than custody;
Parenting Contracts; and
Parenting Orders.

References
Home Office (2003). Respect and responsibility: taking a stand against anti-social behaviour. CM 5778. Home Office. London. (Please click here to access the Paper online.)

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