Angus Community Safety and Antisocial Behaviour ... - Angus Council

Angus Community Safety and Antisocial Behaviour Strategy 2009-12 | 15Antisocial Behaviour – The Angus PictureThe Anti-Social Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 provides a range of measures,some of which are currently in use or have been used in Angus. A composite list ofthe interventions provided by the Act is attached at Appendix 1.Following the introduction of the Act, a number of services were introduced in Angusto provide the local response to issues of antisocial behaviour. These include:-Angus Council and Tayside Police. The team is ledby the Service Manager (Community Safety), AngusCouncil and the Community Safety Inspector,Tayside Police.Angus Council Policy and Proceduresfor Dealing with ASBAngus Council’s approach to dealing with ASBcomplaints is central to delivering the objectives ofthe Strategy.Angus Council’s current procedural document ondealing with ASB complaints was required to bereviewed in line with changes in legislation and goodpractice. It was also required that a separate ASBpolicy document be added to define and outlineAngus Council’s aims, attitude and general approachto antisocial behaviour and to communicate clearlywhat standards of behaviour are acceptable. Thenew policy document also outlines specificcommitments Angus Council is making to theresidents of Angus in terms of dealing with ASB andwhat service standards can be expected. A copy ofthe ASB Policy document is available atAngus.gov.uk. Current Scottish ASB enforcementmeasures are detailed at appendix 1.Joint Services TeamAs previously stated, the Joint Services Team inAngus is a joint team comprising members fromThe Antisocial Behaviour Unit within the JointServices Team is responsible for managing seriouscases of antisocial behaviour. The unit has threeinvestigations officers responsible for investigatingand managing complaints about antisocialbehaviour. In addition they act as professionalwitnesses and where necessary provide a serviceoutwith the normal office hours. To support theofficers, a solicitor has been employed. Thesolicitor provides legal advice and support for theteam and represents the team in Court matters.The Antisocial Behaviour Co-ordinator isresponsible for the local authorities’ operationalresponse to antisocial behaviour issues. The Coordinatorworks closely with local housing offices,housing associations, council departments, thecourts and the police to effectively co-ordinateand deal with antisocial behaviour problemsexperienced by our residents.The unit is supported by a Community IntelligenceAnalyst who is trained to identify emerging trendsand ‘hotspots’. The analyst collects informationfrom a broad range of Partnership members. Theteam also consists of the Community SafetySergeant, the Community Safety Liaison Officer,both police officers, and the Youth Justice Assessor.In a number of areas, early interventionarrangements include regular meetings betweenlocal housing staff and the Police to shareinformation and pursue a joint approach to dealwith incidents of antisocial behaviour.