The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has today announced an action plan for a major crackdown on antisocial behaviour in Harlow, pleading to ‘stamp it out once and for all’.
Harlow will be used as a trailblazer area, one of ten in the country, meaning the new measures announced today will come into force without delay and will ensure antisocial behaviour is ‘treated with the urgency it deserves’. The action plan includes:
- Increased police presence on the streets to help tackle anti-social behaviour in problem areas such as the town centre, cycle tracks, and public transport.
- Introduction of a new Immediate Justice Scheme so those found guilty of committing anti-social behaviour will be made to repair the damage as soon as 48 hours after committing the offence so victims know antisocial behaviour is treated seriously and with urgency.
- Nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” canisters, which have plagued the Harlow landscape, will be banned, sending a clear message to intimidating gangs who hang around car parks and children’s parks and litter them with empty canisters, that they will not get away with this behaviour
- Police will also be given new powers to crackdown on illegal drug use.
- A new online one-stop shop reporting tool where people can quickly and easily report incidents of anti-social behaviour.
- Increased fines of up to £500 and £1,000 for those who graffiti, litter or fly tip.
- The Council and Housing Associations will have more powers to evict unruly tenants who ruin their neighbours’ lives through persistent noise or by being drunk and disorderly.
- Harlow Council will have new powers to quickly take control and sell off empty buildings to restore pride in the town centre and our neighbourhood centres.
These measures come on top of the Government’s recruitment of 30 new police officers for Harlow and a town centre policing team to crack down on street drinking and disorder in the town centre. Essex Police, which serves Harlow, now has more police officers than ever before.
Harlow’s MP, Robert Halfon, said: “I know how fed up residents are with antisocial behaviour and I have worked hard with the Government and the Police and Crime Commissioner for real action to tackle this problem.
“The new plan announced today, which includes a trailblazer project in Harlow, higher police presence, swifter and tougher sentencing especially in anti-social behaviour hotspots, will go a long way to restore local pride and help prevent more serious crime.
“The new measures will come into effect quickly meaning that Harlow residents can feel safer on the streets and in their local communities. By taking this action, we are building an even better Harlow so that residents can be proud of our town and where they call home.”
Commenting on the action plan announced today, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Anti-social behaviour undermines the basic right of people to feel safe in the place they call home.
“The public have rightly had enough – which is why I am determined to restore people’s confidence that those responsible will be quickly and visibly punished.
“This action plan maps out how we will tackle this issue with the urgency it deserves and stamp out these crimes once and for all – so that wherever you live, you can feel safe in, and proud of your community.”
Essex Police and Crime Commissioner, Roger Hirst, added: “I very much welcome these new government measures to combat anti-social behaviour, and the funding to back them.
“We have piloted hotspot policing in Essex, and have worked closely with our Community Safety Partners to get anti-social behaviour down by over half in the last seven years.
“But too often residents find they cannot use public spaces, or are distressed by dysfunctional behaviour. These new measures mean we will be able to keep more people safe, and feeling safe."
