Town Hall announces online system for reporting anti-social behaviour – as government brings in ‘respect orders’
Islington Town Hall. Photograph: Islington Citizen
Islington Council is to launch an online system to enhance reporting of anti-social behaviour – as the government introduces new powers for local authorities to deal with repeat offenders.
On Friday, the Home Office announced that “hooligans who wreak havoc on local communities” could be jailed for up to two years as a result of updated measures to deal with anti-social behaviour (ASB).
Councils will soon be able to apply for new “respect orders”, which could see individuals banned from town centres or from drinking in high streets and other public places.
Islington Council did not comment on how the new powers would impact its own enforcement of ASB and community safety, but a spokesperson did point to a series of measures being introduced to deal with cases.
“Everyone in Islington deserves to feel safe. We take anti-social behaviour very seriously, and we will use all available means to address it, including working with the police, communities and other agencies.
“We are launching a new online system to make reporting quicker and easier, a new case management team to investigate complex cases and, in the new year, a 24/7 patrolling service.
“We continue to urge [residents] to report any anti-social behaviour to the council, and any criminal activity to the police.”
In September, councillors rubber-stamped plans to help people feel safer amid criticisms of both the Town Hall and police over their handling of ASB complaints.
The measures included more estate drop-ins, enhanced communications with residents and increased patrols by the Safer Neighbourhood Team and other specialist policing squads.
According to the council’s website, Parkguard officers, who respond to reports of ASB made to the council, are conducting weekly proactive patrols in crime and disorder ‘hot spots’ often joined by police or outreach teams.
The Town Hall has described ASB as a “blight” and “one of the biggest challenges we face in a high-density, inner-city London borough, where issues can be difficult to solve”.
But a special report from the Housing Ombudsman in 2023 said the council had a 94 per cent maladministration rate for complaints over the issue — close to double the national average of 52 per cent.
The watchdog recommended the Town Hall develop information-sharing and partnership agreements with housing associations on ASB problems to provide targeted support to tenants “at an early stage”.
A survey of 250 Islington residents found that half thought both the police and council “were doing a bad job responding to ASB”, while a third of respondents claiming they had found it hard to report issues.
Announcing the new powers as part of the Crime and Policing Bill, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:
“Too many town centres and neighbourhoods across our country are being plagued by anti-social behaviour, be it street drinking, harassment or vandalism on the high street or noisy and intimidating off-road bikes terrorising our estates.
“Antisocial behaviour chips away at communities’ sense of confidence and pride, undermines local businesses and can have a devastating impact on victims.
“This cannot be allowed to continue. Respect orders will give police and councils the powers they need to crack down on repeated anti-social behaviour, keeping our communities safe and ensuring repeat offenders face the consequences of their action”
However, civil liberties campaigners have raised concerns that police could misuse their new powers, and argue there is a risk the orders could criminalise homelessness.
The measures would give police more power to deal with the “scourge” of off-road bikes in public parks and “dangerous” e-scooters street racing, cruising and riding on pavements, the Home Office has said.
For instance, officers would no longer need to issue a warning before seizing vehicles involved in ASB.