Local residents across Lambeth will get extra help to tackle anti-social behaviour with up to ten thousand front-line staff and community champions receiving training and support to use tough powers and solve local problems, the government has announced.

Local councils and social landlords working with the police are tackling anti-social behaviour effectively and supporting victims.

Latest figures from the British Crime Survey show there has been a fall in people’s perception of anti-social behaviour as a local problem over the last six years.

But statistics are cold comfort to victims, and ministers are determined that everyone across the country should be working together in driving down anti-social behaviour and driving up people’s confidence.
Support and training needs to go further and deeper across communities.

The government is therefore calling on frontline staff from community safety teams to housing officers across England to make full use of the powers and tools already available, while giving more support to residents and community activists.

This drive, which is being funded by a £10m package, will target 130 local councils including Lambeth, which is set to receive a new tranche of funding.

This additional funding will support measures letting local residents know the rights and how to report anti-social behaviour through targeted leaflets, regional events and information for local media as well as extra training for frontline staff such as police and neighbourhood wardens.

It will also fund new clean-up campaigns, supporting community led projects to engage young people and creating more attractive public spaces.

Social landlords, including housing associations such as Clapham Park Homes will have a duty to take measures to stop anti-social behaviour, being required to sign up to a binding Respect Standard.

Where this is not upheld, people will be given support to challenge landlords and councils to make sure that action is taken.

A new Housing Anti-Social Behaviour Squad is being set up nationally to deal with crime in areas of social housing, providing help on the ground to deal with problems faced by housing associations.

Commenting, Chuka Umunna said: “Evidence shows that intervention against anti-social behaviour works, and the new measures and funding will help tackle the problem in our area.”

“People need to know that they are not alone – the government, council and police are on their side in dealing with problem neighbours, violence and vandalism.”