The Scottish Government

This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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Allocation of antisocial behaviour cash

08/03/2004

The allocation of an additional £30 million to local authorities to tackle antisocial behaviour (ASB)was announced today.

People in Scotland, wherever they live, should have a right to a basic level of support when dealing with incidents of ASB, Communities Minister Margaret Curran said.

She added that she expected some of the money to be used to put in place services that will:

• Encourage people to report incidents of ASB
• Support them when they do
• Help resolve neighbourhood disputes before they get out of hand

Over the next two years, £20 million will go towards helping councils and their partners deliver the ASB strategies that are a requirement of the ASB Bill.

An additional £10 million will be used at national level to support local authorities through practical projects to pilot new approaches, for example intensive supervision and support of problem families and to improve information-sharing between agencies and to provide training and support and the sharing of good practice.

Margaret Curran, in Hamilton to see how South Lanarkshire's antisocial behaviour 'helpline' and neighbourhood mediation service operate, said:

"People across Scotland have a right to expect that if they report incidents of antisocial behaviour they will be supported and protected, from the moment they report the incident, through investigation and beyond. If people do not feel confident, agencies will not know when and where antisocial behaviour is happening and will not be able to take even the first steps in dealing with it.

"People have a right to expect that best practice becomes the standard practice across Scotland. I want people in other areas to enjoy the same level of practical support they get in South Lanarkshire. Our funding will help to ensure this happens."

She added:

"While people, irrespective of where they live, have a right to certain basic support, this does not mean that services will look the same across Scotland. Local arrangements need to reflect local circumstances. This is why we place such emphasis on local strategies and why we are working closely with COSLA and other partners".

Councillor Eddie McAvoy, Leader of South Lanarkshire Council, said:

"We welcome the extra £30 million for antisocial measures being announced today and support the emphasis on preventative and interventionist services such as mediation and helplines. South Lanarkshire has pioneered such services and found them to be very effective tools in tackling antisocial behaviour and building community confidence."

David McKenna, Chief Executive of Victim Support Scotland, added:

"Our communities will benefit substantially from today's very practical announcement. Advice, practical support and protection in the face of antisocial behaviour are essential in recovering safe and secure communities."

Keith Simpson, head of service development at SACRO, said:

"Mediation has a vital role to play in reducing antisocial behaviour by helping people of all ages in our local communities to understand how their behaviour affects others and to find ways of enjoying their lives without causing distress to others."

The table below shows how the £20 million pounds will be allocated amongst local authorities. These are indicative allocations only. The formula for distribution took into account population, population density, crime levels and deprivation.