A £1 million funding pot will be used to tackle anti-social behaviour in West Yorkshire, but the work will not just be focused on “humiliating” offenders.
In March, the Government announced that West Yorkshire was one of several areas that would pilot an “immediate justice” scheme. The proposals would see offenders cleaning up graffiti or other criminal damage within 48 hours of committing the offence.
It was proposed such payback would be high visibility – with Government suggestions that the offenders could wear bright vests to make it clear that they were offenders.
And it would also give communities blighted by anti-social behaviour a say in how the offenders are punished.
Today it was announced that the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, had secured £1m to introduce such measures locally, and the public will now be asked how they feel those responsible for anti-social behaviour should make amends for their actions.
Alison Lowe, Deputy Mayor, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the trial will see different services for adults and children – and focus on preventing people from getting involved in crime to start with, rather than just punishing offenders.
“Payback” offenders could be involved in includes unpaid work, repairing damage caused by their actions, and the option of restorative justice, where the victim can communicate with the person responsible for the crime to see the consequences of their actions.
Ms Lowe said the pilot announcement had been “a bit of a mess” – with forces only being made aware that they would be involved in pilots shortly before the announcement.
She added: “We want anti-social behaviour to be a thing of the past.”
As well as punishing those who are involved in ASB, she said they would work with people, particularly young people, who need “support, mentoring and diversionary activities” to prevent them from falling into the wrong crowd.
She added: “It will not just be about high viz jackets and people being humiliated.”
“We’re asking people what harms anti-social behaviour causes in their community and what they would like to see people do to repair the damage.
“We want to do it in a compassionate way, and a way that is effective in tackling anti-social behaviour.”
One area of the scheme will look at young people aged 12 and up, and would be led by the young service, with an extra nine youth service officers brought on board.
She said: “The giving back element might be litter picking or cleaning up graffiti.
“But there is no point punishing people if you’re not dealing with the root causes.”
Referring to the work to deal with adults, she people found to have caused anti-social behaviour could get 20 hours of community pay pack, adding: “We do want people who cause this harm to be punished, but it is not just about a big stick. We also need to understand what is happening to get to this situation in the first place.
“We want it to be a plan that changes people’s behaviour, not just punishes them for the impact of this behaviour.
“If you commit a crime you do have to face the consequences, but we have to understand what is happening with some people, and how do we prevent it happening in future. If someone is at the start of their offending journey then we have to be better at putting interventions in to keep these people out of the criminal justice system.”
The Government announcement had said the payback element could be carried out within 48 hours of any crime taking place.
Ms Lowe said: “That is a really quick turnaround to create a bespoke plan for each person, but we will try to get it through as soon as possible.”
Chief Inspector Alan Travis, who is leading on this project for West Yorkshire Police said:
“We are working closely with West Yorkshire Combined Authority and other key stakeholders on what will be a new pathway to deal with perpetrators of anti-social behaviour.
“This pathway will not only contribute to reparation for the communities affected by anti-social behaviour, but should also lead to a reduction in re-offending through education, rehabilitation, and restorative justice.”
To find out more and have your say on the pilot, visit www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/asb
