• HELPING YOU FEEL SAFER
• CRIME
• HATE CRIME
• DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
• DRUGS
• ALCOHOL
• ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
• ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR (ASB) •

  WHAT IS ASB? •

  WHAT WILL SAFER SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE DO? •

  TYPES OF ASB •

  TOOLS TO TACKLE ASB •

  REPORTING ASB •

  POSITIVE ACTION •
• COMMUNITY GROUPS
• TRAINING
• GP INFORMATION

Positive Action on Anti Social Behaviour

Because ASBOs are so widely publicised both nationally and locally, there tends to be limited understanding of the wider picture.  In South Gloucestershire, the majority of our work is in tackling anti social behaviour (ASB) when it first occurs, and in ensuring its underlying problems are addressed. A prompt intervention by means of a letter or interview may be sufficient to stop a problem before it develops. We take many steps and liaise with various other people and agencies (parents, the Police, social services, housing officers) before even considering an ABC (Acceptable Behaviour Contract).  Applying for an ASBO is the last resort in this process.

It is worth noting that the majority of young people DON’T cause ASB: Our ASB team works closely with Youth Workers, community police teams and the community to ensure that Young People in South Gloucestershire are involved in positive incentives and able to contribute fully to the safety and wellbeing of their neighbourhoods.  It is important that our young people are seen in a fair and realistic light, since the majority of them are NOT involved in anti-social behaviour of any kind.

Some of the joint initiatives Safer South Gloucestershire is involved in to take positive action on anti social behaviour are:

• Safer South Gloucestershire and Avon and Somerset Police jointly launched the ‘Respect’ Campaign – an ongoing initiative designed to curb binge drinking and alcohol-related anti social behaviour through enforcement (including joint agency licensing visits), education and the provision of support
• The Three Strikes initiative was identified as good practice for identifying persistent offenders for ABCs and ASBOs.  It was launched as a pilot in Chipping Sodbury and Thornbury licensed premises in March 2006, in partnership with the local Police and Pubwatch. 
• Safer South Gloucestershire purchased 'Carrying the Can' packs for all South Gloucestershire secondary schools.  This Police campaign aims to tackle binge drinking by targeting the next generation.
• As a result of the implementation of the Arson Task Force’s strategy covering education, prevention, investigation and detection, recorded arson fell by 25% in South Gloucestershire in 2005/6
• A practitioners’ toolkit and guide to Anti Social Behaviour has been published and circulated to all police beat managers, housing staff, registered landlords and other relevant agencies. The toolkit has been identified as best practice and has been purchased by other partnerships
• Safer South Gloucestershire-led training is delivered to Housing officers and managers, the Youth Service and PCSOs in handling ASB cases and early intervention
• A specialist ASB database (Flare) is being used to record all incidents of ASB for the Safer South Gloucestershire Partnership and as a case management tool for practitioners.  Hotspot data is also recorded and used with other data
• Newsletters have been produced specifically for communities with high incidents of ASB, with an emphasis on encouraging residents to report and record it and to work with us to address it