“Councils will take a proportionate approach to using the tools at their disposal to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.“
Responding to plans by the Home Office to publish guidance on how anti-social behaviour powers should be used, Cllr Simon Blackburn, Chair of the Local Government Association's Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said:
“Many anti-social behaviour offences are serious issues for local residents and businesses, and councils are keen to protect them from offenders who can make the lives of those they target a misery.
“Councils will take a proportionate approach to using the tools at their disposal to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. We look forward to studying the revised guidance on how best to use these powers in a consistent, fair and transparent way to tackle genuine nuisance behaviour to protect people from distress or alarm.
“Powers such as Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) are used following public consultation in response to local concerns. Like any other council service, they are also subject to scrutiny by democratically elected councillors and can be amended if needed.”