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Putting our communities first: A Strategy for tackling Anti-social
Behaviour
ministerial foreword 
Every person in Scotland deserves the right to live in peace and safety. Every
person in Scotland deserves the right to leave their home when they want and
walk down the street when they want to without the fear or worry about what's
going to happen to them when they do. Every person in Scotland deserves the
right to live in a community that is clean and well looked after. Streets, parks,
play areas and shops that are not disfigured and damaged by graffiti and rubbish.
That is what the proposals in this paper are about. This paper - and the Anti-social
Behaviour Bill that will follow it - put Scottish Ministers firmly on the side
of communities. We are on the side of every ordinary decent person in Scotland.
Young and old. We have listened to your concerns about abusive and disruptive
behaviour, about vandalism, about noise and nuisance and about environments
spoiled by the irresponsible action of others. And this is our plan to address
them.
Our proposals are founded on the basic principle that every one of us has rights,
but we also have responsibilities. That principle is, after all, the core requirement
for a healthy civic society. A society where we respect each other and our property
and where we respect the communities we live in. Most people in Scotland live
their lives and bring up their children by that principle. But there are a few
among us who do not fulfil their side of the bargain. That small minority undermine
the lives of the many. We have seen the effects of their actions. Communities,
once healthy and robust, plunged into in a downward spiral of inaction, fear
and neglect. But it doesn't have to be this way.
Anti-social behaviour by individuals, families or businesses and other bodies
will not be ignored or tolerated any longer. The practical measures we propose
are specifically designed to tackle such behaviour wherever and whenever it
happens. But we are also about changing behaviour. We want to make sure that
those who behave in an anti-social, disrespectful and inconsiderate way really
understand how their behaviour and their actions affect others.
There is a lot of good work being done now in our communities. Many individuals,
local authorities and agencies already invest considerable energy and commitment
in standing up for themselves, their neighbours and their communities. We will
encourage, support and build on that. Scottish government and communities working
together to improve lives.
Working together we are confident we can turn the tide on anti-social behaviour.
We will do that by putting our communities, and all the decent people in them
- young and old - first.
Margaret Curran, MSP
Minister for Communities
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