Is enough being done to tackle anti-social behaviour in our area?

The crime and disorder act 1998 defines anti-social behaviour (ASB) as one's behaviour which "caused or was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household" as the perpetrator. Official examples of ASB, to name a few are: Littering or drugs paraphernalia; trespassing; street drinking; vhicle nuisance or inappropriate use; rowdy or inconsiderate behaviour.

So, is there an ASB problem in Brentwood? Local residents only have to think a little while back to the World Cup, where drunken supporters rolled out onto the high street stopping traffic and causing criminal damage to vehicles and the venues that hosted the games.

Furthermore, according to the official crime stats, between June 2017 and July 2018 there were 1,548 reported ASB incidents around Brentwood. Examples of these are reckless drivers on quadbikes and groups of people intimidating people in the high street.

One cause of ASB is boredom among youths- group of friends running out of things to do and getting up to no good. A way to tackle this is by encouraging the community. A safer, happier and active community would prevent ASB. Funding youth/community clubs gives young people something to do other than roam the streets and from my former nights at a youth club, I know this works. Community policing would get an extra £300 million a year under the Liberal Democrats to create a safer environment and means more officers on the streets with the locals to prevent crime happening.

In Brentwood, not enough is being done, especially after the years of severe cuts to the polices and Essex youth services. An engagement between local schools and the community could improve the lifestyle of residents as well as teaching young people how to be respectable members of the borough.