Over 480 warning letters have been sent to anti social offenders, their parents or guardians as work to tackle the priority issue continues.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Community Safety Partnership has a specialist Anti Social Behaviour Unit that was formed to coordinate and drive the response to the issue.
It aims to identify issues early to prevent anti-social behaviour developing, while also tackling offenders and supporting and protecting victims in the worst cases.
Anti-social behaviour is an issue which affects all agencies in RCT, including the council, police, fire service, landlords, housing associations and so on, which is why the unit was formed.
It brings together the response from all of those involved in, or affected by, an individual’s behaviour, to secure the best-possible outcome.
This work in the last 12 months has included:
- 483 warning letters sent to anti-social offenders, their parents or guardians once behaviour has been identified.
- 41 home visits made to the homes of anti-social offenders
- 8 Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) signed by individuals, with the understanding they may be made subject of an ASBO if they fail to adhere. The two people on the ABCs have been offered support and intervention to keep them in a positive way of life and, to date, neither has re-offended.
- 17 ASBOs secured in the courts against individuals of all ages in a bid to curb their behaviour.
- Appointment of a specialist officer who works with the victims of Anti-Social Behaviour, giving them advice and information and keeping them updated and reassured. This work includes specialist support for those who have been repeat victims of Anti-Social Behaviour. This officer has already sent 180 letters to victims to keep them updated on complaints they have made, 69 letters to victims updating them on action taken against offenders and 24 one-to-one visits with vulnerable or repeat victims.
- Friday Night Projects that see police officers, youth workers, Anti-Social Behaviour specialists, Youth Offending Team staff and more take to streets on weekends. The projects spend time in areas that have been identified as suffering from high levels of anti-social behaviour, disorder or underage drinking. As well as seizing alcohol and dealing with those who sell or supply it to the underage, the projects also work to identify alternative social activities for the young people they come across. The projects have led to 12 young people being taken home to their parents and spoken to about their behaviour or underage drinking.
The unit and its work has secured a national reputation of excellence and, as such, has been invited to share its best-practice and successes at the All-Wales Anti Social Behaviour Group’s Annual General Meeting.
Paul Cannon, Chair of the Community Safety Partnership, said: “Anti-Social Behaviour remains a priority issue across the County Borough as it affects so many of our communities.
“It is important to remember that anti-social behaviour is committed by people of all ages – not just young people.
“We are proud of the work of our unit, which has worked hard to bring together all agencies that are responding to Anti-Social Behaviour. By joining forces and delivering a single, streamlined response, the partner agencies, working as the Community Safety Partnership, have secured excellent results.
“Importantly, this work has flown the flag for Rhondda Cynon Taf and we are now considered among the best in Wales for our work to prevent Anti-Social Behaviour, deal with it effectively when it happens and support victims.
“This should serve as a reassurance to our communities that we really are working hard, in partnership, on their behalf.”
