This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Antisocial behaviour campaign
21/02/2005
A public information campaign to help people use the new
Antisocial Behaviour laws to stand up to nuisance
neighbours and vandals was launched today.
The awareness campaign, Standing Up to Antisocial
Behaviour, includes local newspaper, bus and radio
advertising and an information leaflet for every home in
the country.
First Minister Jack McConnell said:
"When the Scottish Parliament passed the Antisocial
Behaviour Bill last June, we sent out a clear message that
enough was enough. We are standing up for the law-abiding
majority who care about their communities, by giving them
the tools to stand up to the law-breaking minority who
couldn't care less. And today we take further steps to
give more power to individuals and communities to protect
or rebuild their quality of life.
"Change is already taking place. Councils and police are
starting to use some of the new measures. Lives are getting
better. But many people are still unaware of what these new
measures are, and how they can help deal with the
day-to-day problems they face.
"From graffiti to noisy neighbours, from dumped TV sets
and fridges to intimidation from gangs of youths, there are
new measures in force to deal with these and many of the
other issues that can cause misery in neighbourhoods. But
we want every family in Scotland to know that they can act
- we want to empower them to stand up to antisocial
behaviour.
"That is why, from today onwards, we are making sure
that those who suffer from antisocial behaviour realise
that they do not need to suffer in silence. That the law
is there to help them stand up to antisocial behaviour, to
help deal with it effectively and bring them a bit of
peace. Just as we have helped councils and Police forces
to deal with antisocial behaviour more effectively, we will
also help Scots stand up to antisocial behaviour in their
communities. "
COSLA President Pat Watters welcomed the Executive's
campaign. He said:
"You only have to look at the impact antisocial
behaviour has on individuals and communities to know why
the Leaders of Scotland's councils back this campaign.
No-one is more committed to ridding Scotland's communities
of anti social behaviour than Scotland's Council
Leaders.
"Antisocial behaviour is corrosive and a blight on the
communities represented by councillors the length and
breadth of Scotland. At present I am dealing with an issue
in my own area where the behaviour of a handful of youths
is having an horrendous impact on the life of an elderly
lady.
"COSLA has supported the Scottish Executive's
legislative measures since they were introduced and we
fully support this campaign.
"Communities across Scotland can rest assured that both
tiers of government in Scotland - national and local - will
continue to do everything they can to resolve the pain and
misery caused by antisocial behaviour. "
A spokesperson for the Association of Chief Police
Officers Scotland (ACPOS) said:
"The Scottish Police Service recognises that quality of
life is important to the people of Scotland.
"Acts of antisocial behaviour, including noise nuisance,
drunken and disorderly behaviour, vandalism and graffiti,
speeding vehicles, violent crimes, drugs and alcohol
misuse, litter and dog fouling, can generate fear and
distress for people, particularly the elderly, minority
ethnic communities and vulnerable community groups.
"We therefore welcome the measures provided by the new
Act and are committed to working closely with other
services and agencies to tackle antisocial behaviour."
The advertsing campaign will consist of radio
advertisements, local press advertisements, adverts on
buses and an information leaflet which will be distributed
to households across Scotland. The adverts will point
people in the direction of sources of information about the
measures in the Antisocial Behaviour Act and the leaflets
will include contact details for local sources of further
information. The total cost of the campaign is £684,000.
Information about Antisocial Behaviour more generally is
available at
www.antisocialbehaviourscotland.com
The Antisocial Behaviour Bill received Royal Assent on
26 July 2004. Measures started to effect from 28 October.
A timetable for commencement of every part of the Act is
set out in a 'Guide to the Antisocial Behaviour etc.
(Scotland) Act 2004' which is available at
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/social/gaba-00.asp.
Local authority allocations to support ASB measures from
2005-06 will be announced in the next few weeks.
Recent examples of ASB measures making an impact
include:
- The first closure order issued to
Fife police on 21 January against a man who made his
neighbours' lives a misery by holding rowdy parties and
playing loud music at all hours of the day and night.
Superintendent Tony Fitzpatrick, said the case offered
hope to people with problem neighbours: "I am delighted
at the outcome of this case, mainly because those
elderly people, who have put up with this intolerable
situation for a long time, will finally be able to get
some peace and quiet". Other closure orders have been
granted in Edinburgh and Angus
- Also in January, a Dundee anti-crime project
succeeded in being granted its first court order
against a persistent shoplifter. A serial shoplifter
was therefore banned from every leading store in a
Dundee in a pioneering crackdown by shops and
businesses
- Also in January, the community
warden scheme in Aberdeenshire was credited with
contributing to a big drop in vandalism