The Home Secretary saw how better cooperation between local authorities and other public agencies exposes wider criminal activity. Better information-sharing between agencies can expose television licence evasion, benefit and council tax fraud and vehicle insurance dodging, highlighting wider criminal behaviour.
Henbury has already seen considerable improvements in tackling anti-social behaviour. The local authority has used anti-social behaviour tools including dispersal orders to tackle problems such as street drinking, graffiti and burned out cars.
Latest figures show that local agencies across the country used the tools and powers available to tackle anti-social behaviour more than 16,000 times between April and June 2008. The south-west accounted for 1,532 tools and powers.
The Home Secretary said, 'No-one should have to put up with anti-social behaviour. I want communities to know that the Government is firmly on their side and is turning the tables on those who persistently make others’ lives a misery.
'Most adults know better than to play loud music or to strew the streets with their rubbish. Those who can’t behave properly should understand that they won’t just be watched by the police – local councils, housing benefit officers, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and the TV Licensing authority will all be watching and sharing information too.
'We have put in place powerful tools to tackle low level disorder and the new anti-social behaviour squad will work with local agencies to help them make best use of those powers.
'I have seen today that Bristol City Council, local police and other partner crime fighting agencies are using our anti-social behaviour tools to enhance community life in areas like Henbury. I want other areas to learn from this inspirational example.'
