Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced bold new plans to crack-down on anti-social behaviour. Backed by £160 million of funding, the Government will ban laughing gas and implement tougher rules on fly-tipping and vandalism to make our streets safer – promising to ‘stamp it out once and for all’.
Announcing his plans, Rishi Sunak said: “The public have rightly had enough – which is why I am determined to restore people’s confidence that those responsible will be quickly and visibly punished.”
The new action plan includes:
- Increased police presence on the streets to help tackle anti-social behaviour in problem areas such as the town centre, cycle tracks, and public transport.
- Introduction of a new Immediate Justice Scheme so those found guilty of committing anti-social behaviour will be made to repair the damage as soon as 48 hours after committing the offence so victims know antisocial behaviour is treated seriously and with urgency.
- Nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” canisters, which have plagued the Harlow landscape, will be banned, sending a clear message to intimidating gangs who hang around car parks and children’s parks and litter them with empty canisters, that they will not get away with this behaviour
- Police will also be given new powers to crackdown on illegal drug use.
- A new online one-stop shop reporting tool where people can quickly and easily report incidents of anti-social behaviour.
- Increased fines of up to £500 and £1,000 for those who graffiti, litter or fly tip.
- The Council and Housing Associations will have more powers to evict unruly tenants who ruin their neighbours’ lives through persistent noise or by being drunk and disorderly.
- Havering Council will have new powers to quickly take control and sell off empty buildings to restore pride in the town centre and our neighbourhood centres.
Andrew Rosindell, M.P. for Romford, enthusiastically welcomed the new plans. Andrew said: “I am delighted that the Prime Minister is taking a tough stance on anti-social behaviour to crack down hard on crime.”
“I know how fed-up residents are with antisocial behaviour and I have campaigned to make the Government take serious action to tackle this problem.”
"This is a blight on our communities which no-one in Romford or Hornchurch should have to put up with. The new action plan will help make the lives of everyone who lives in our community safer.
"I particularly welcome the announcement that nitrous oxide is being banned. This drug is a menace and has caused havoc in our local community, as well as seriously damaging the health of our young people, and I have been campaigning hard to get it banned.
"I am glad that the that the Home Secretary has listened to my concerns and is taking decisive action.
"I am thrilled that Essex has been chosen as one of the new hotspot trailblazer areas – which will further help the crackdown on graffiti and fly-tipping which continues to blight Romford”.
