John Battle MP says Respect Agenda will make Leeds West a better place to live

John Battle MP has welcomed Labour’s drive to widen the clampdown on anti-social behaviour, to tackle its causes in the home, classroom and local community, and to build a culture of respect in society.

The new measures in the ‘Respect Action Plan’ focus attention on the prevention of anti-social behaviour as well as dealing with bad behaviour when it occurs. It includes strategies to tackle problem families, reduce school truancy and dramatically increase numbers of police community support officers on our streets.

Labour’s Respect Action Plan will place tackling problem families at the heart of measures to tackle the causes of disrespect and anti-social behaviour.

John Battle MP said:

“The Respect Action Plan will make Leeds West a better place to live. This is a well-thought out series of measures, new powers and investment that will help tackle the mindless minority who can make all our lives a misery.

“By addressing problem families, school truancy, providing parenting classes and giving young people more things to do we are doing everything possible to avert anti-social behaviour occurring in Leeds West. I’m also pleased that this plan has strong measures and new police powers to deal with those individuals who fail to respect the rules and who disrupt the lives of hardworking local people.

“These measures ensure everyone in Leeds West lives in a safe area and in a community where those who play by the rules are respected.”

Key elements from the action plan:-

On Monday 9th January, John Battle met with Chief Superintendent Crowther at Weetwood Police station to discuss policing in his West Leeds division.

The Plan is central to the Government's drive to broaden and widen the clampdown on anti-social behaviour to tackle its causes in the home, classroom and local community, and address a wider culture of disrespect in society. The measures focus attention on the prevention of anti-social behaviour as well as dealing with bad behaviour when it occurs. The Action Plan outlines measures for:

Preventing and challenging anti-social behaviour through schools and youth services by ensuring that young people are given consistent messages about what is and is not acceptable behaviour. We will work with sport and culture bodies on new programmes of activities to inspire and engage young people.

Giving young people things to do – diverting them away from unacceptable behaviour. This will include work with regional arts and sports bodies, support for mentoring programmes, Britain’s first youth volunteering service and piloting youth opportunity cards.

Tackling the problem of ‘off the school roll’ kids through measures to address persistent truancy and ensure excluded children receive appropriate provision.

Tackling the causes of anti-social behaviour through a parenting drive and a national programme to address and support the most challenging families. As well as preventing anti social behaviour, this will also reinforce government action to improve life chances for the most in need and tackle the cycle of inter-generational disadvantage.

Empowering local communities to challenge and tackle anti-social behaviour through greater awareness of the powers available to them. This will include neighbourhood charters – setting out what they can expect from services. This will be accompanied by a new power for local communities to ‘trigger’ a response within a set timescale where they believe that a problem of anti-social behaviour is not being dealt with. There will also be an increase in the local accountability of CDRPs who will hold regular face-the-public sessions open to the media.

Rolling out neighbourhood policing nationwide – increasing the number of PCSOs on our streets from 6,000 to 24,000 revolutionising the public’s relationship with the police.

A renewed drive on enforcement to tackle anti-social behaviour by building a 21st Century criminal justice system equipped to tackle 21st Century crime. This includes the introduction of a House Closure Power to close properties associated with persistent anti-social behaviour, reforming anti-social behaviour injunctions, increasing to £100 the fines for serious PND offences and a review of whether further summary powers are necessary.

©John Battle MP 11 January 2006

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