Post by anodyne on Jan 10, 2006 7:48:41 GMT -5
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4595788.stm
People could be evicted from their own homes for three months if they are nuisance neighbours, under a new action plan for Tony Blair's "respect agenda".
The plan would also allow the public to grill police about anti-social behaviour and demand tougher action.
And there will be more use of parenting orders and classes for parents.
The prime minister denied the plans were a "gimmick" and said they would help "take back the streets for the law-abiding majority".
Powers to shut buildings can already be used against "crack houses". Ministers are now to consult on extending the idea so people can be evicted from their homes for three months. Respect action plan (453kb)
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Eviction by court order would a "last resort", says the government but it could, for example, be used against students who annoy their neighbours with loud music.
Introducing fines for owner-occupiers and others not on housing benefit who persist with anti-social behaviour are also being considered.
Mr Blair set up a "respect" task force last year and the plans are the first real fruits of its work.
Downing Street says as few as 50 families in each area cause many of the problems so small measures can have a big effect.
MAIN MEASURES
Consulting on idea of evicting nuisance families from their homes for three months
Police and councils to have to hold "face the people" sessions - with the public able to demand tougher action
More use of parenting orders and a new national parenting academy to train officials on giving advice
Youth opportunity cards giving discounts on activities for youngsters doing voluntary work
New mentoring schemes, including one using top class athletes
Local councils to have to put family support networks in place
New nationwide non-emergency telephone number to make it easier to report nuisance behaviour
Under the proposals, police officers and council officials would have to hold "face the people" sessions.
And where local people were not satisfied, they could ask new local scrutiny committees to investigate through "community calls to action".
The committees would have to report within a deadline. The police and other agencies would have a duty to respond to the committees' findings.
In a speech in Downing Street, Mr Blair said he accepted that on-the-spot fines had reversed the burden of proof for some crimes.
But traditional justice methods were too cumbersome and remote from reality, he said.
He said "spitting at an old lady" in the street was a crime but the person doing it was not prosecuted because it took so many man hours and only resulted in a fine.
"To get on top of 21st century crime we need to accept that what works in practice, in reality on the streets, is a measure of summary powers with right of appeal alongside the traditional court processes," he argued.
HAVE YOUR SAY
If any government or group of people wants to promote a more respectful society, it is admirable and needs supporting
K. Woollett, Southampton
Send us your comments
Radical measures were needed to "rebuild the bonds of community", said Mr Blair.
But he accepted that the vast majority of people, including young people and families on low incomes, did respect each other.
The prime minister later helped to remove graffiti in Swindon, Wiltshire.
'Pessimistic'
Conservative leader David Cameron said Mr Blair had been tough neither on crime nor its causes.
Mr Cameron wants a new scheme for school leavers
As he met voluntary group leader in London, he said: "The real respect agenda must include long-term solutions to the causes of social breakdown, not just short-term sanctions and punishment.
"The real respect agenda must be based on optimism about the ability of people and communities to create civilised lives for themselves, rather than a pessimistic view of human nature."
Mr Cameron wants "social enterprise zones" to remove barriers to voluntary groups pioneering new measures.
And he plans to create a national school leaver programme to give every young person the chance to take part in voluntary work in Britain or abroad.
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten said his party would support the government if it was serious about making communities safer and helping families.
But he warned: "It is an enormous challenge and it cannot be achieved with this government's usual mish-mash of gimmicks and spin."
He warned against "nanny state" measures, saying decisions about parenting were ultimately decisions for parents.
People could be evicted from their own homes for three months if they are nuisance neighbours, under a new action plan for Tony Blair's "respect agenda".
The plan would also allow the public to grill police about anti-social behaviour and demand tougher action.
And there will be more use of parenting orders and classes for parents.
The prime minister denied the plans were a "gimmick" and said they would help "take back the streets for the law-abiding majority".
Powers to shut buildings can already be used against "crack houses". Ministers are now to consult on extending the idea so people can be evicted from their homes for three months. Respect action plan (453kb)
Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Download the reader here
Eviction by court order would a "last resort", says the government but it could, for example, be used against students who annoy their neighbours with loud music.
Introducing fines for owner-occupiers and others not on housing benefit who persist with anti-social behaviour are also being considered.
Mr Blair set up a "respect" task force last year and the plans are the first real fruits of its work.
Downing Street says as few as 50 families in each area cause many of the problems so small measures can have a big effect.
MAIN MEASURES
Consulting on idea of evicting nuisance families from their homes for three months
Police and councils to have to hold "face the people" sessions - with the public able to demand tougher action
More use of parenting orders and a new national parenting academy to train officials on giving advice
Youth opportunity cards giving discounts on activities for youngsters doing voluntary work
New mentoring schemes, including one using top class athletes
Local councils to have to put family support networks in place
New nationwide non-emergency telephone number to make it easier to report nuisance behaviour
Under the proposals, police officers and council officials would have to hold "face the people" sessions.
And where local people were not satisfied, they could ask new local scrutiny committees to investigate through "community calls to action".
The committees would have to report within a deadline. The police and other agencies would have a duty to respond to the committees' findings.
In a speech in Downing Street, Mr Blair said he accepted that on-the-spot fines had reversed the burden of proof for some crimes.
But traditional justice methods were too cumbersome and remote from reality, he said.
He said "spitting at an old lady" in the street was a crime but the person doing it was not prosecuted because it took so many man hours and only resulted in a fine.
"To get on top of 21st century crime we need to accept that what works in practice, in reality on the streets, is a measure of summary powers with right of appeal alongside the traditional court processes," he argued.
HAVE YOUR SAY
If any government or group of people wants to promote a more respectful society, it is admirable and needs supporting
K. Woollett, Southampton
Send us your comments
Radical measures were needed to "rebuild the bonds of community", said Mr Blair.
But he accepted that the vast majority of people, including young people and families on low incomes, did respect each other.
The prime minister later helped to remove graffiti in Swindon, Wiltshire.
'Pessimistic'
Conservative leader David Cameron said Mr Blair had been tough neither on crime nor its causes.
Mr Cameron wants a new scheme for school leavers
As he met voluntary group leader in London, he said: "The real respect agenda must include long-term solutions to the causes of social breakdown, not just short-term sanctions and punishment.
"The real respect agenda must be based on optimism about the ability of people and communities to create civilised lives for themselves, rather than a pessimistic view of human nature."
Mr Cameron wants "social enterprise zones" to remove barriers to voluntary groups pioneering new measures.
And he plans to create a national school leaver programme to give every young person the chance to take part in voluntary work in Britain or abroad.
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten said his party would support the government if it was serious about making communities safer and helping families.
But he warned: "It is an enormous challenge and it cannot be achieved with this government's usual mish-mash of gimmicks and spin."
He warned against "nanny state" measures, saying decisions about parenting were ultimately decisions for parents.
