Proposal for tackling anti-social behaviour: please give us your views

[RowanMumsnet]

We've been approached by Ben Rogers, who's a visiting fellow at the RSA and director of the Centre for London at Demos, to pick your brains about tackling anti-social behaviour. In Ben's words:

'Acts of incivility and anti-social behaviour, though often small in themselves, can mount up to bring down a neighbourhood and make some people's lives really miserable. But what should we do when confronted with a group of kids running wild in a play area meant for young children, or a dog owner letting their dog play in a part of the park from which dogs are barred? More seriously, what should we do if a neighour is being repeatedly taunted because of a disability or something else that sets them apart? How should we respond when the people next door play loud music late into the night or let rubbish pile up in their garden?

The police and the government have long been equivocal in their answer. They often bemoan that we have become a 'walk-on-by society' unwilling to step in to tackle anti-social behaviour, but they also insist that we should not take risks: 'if in doubt, call the police'.

Yet we can't leave the police to do everything - especially when police funding is being cut. In truth, most 'community policing' is not done by the police at all, but by the public, and in particular by local 'authority figures': park keepers, estate wardens, bus drivers, tickets collectors, street cleaners, shop keepers, publicans. In the UK we seem particularly unwilling to intervene to tackle anti-social behaviour. One survey by the Jill Dando Institute of Criminology found that while 60 per cent of German people say they would feel confident about intervening if they saw a group of 14 year olds vandalising a bus shelter, only 30 per cent of British people would.

Last year I wrote a pamphlet, The Woolwich Model, arguing that one way of adressing ASB would be to provide training to ordinary people in how to handle it. One model for this might be first aid - first taught in Woolwich in 1878. After all, the police are taught how to deal with ASB and defuse conflict, as are PCSOs. Teachers are also taught these skills or acquire them on the job. A basic version of these skills could be taught to the rest of us, much as first aid is taught. Three sets of skills would be key: reading a situation and assessing risk, self-defence, and defusing a situation and mediating conflict.

Since writing the pamphlet I have started working with a young charity, Dfuse, that is dedicated precisely to providing this sort of training. The feedback from the course suggests that people walk away feeling less worried about ASB and more confident in their ability to deal with it.

Of course training is not a cure-all. ASB is worse in poorer areas, and there are deep reasons for that that won't be tackled by training local people and public services workers in 'defusing skills'. On the other hand many people want to intervene but don't feel confident to do so. Training could help address that.'

Over to you lot. What do you think about the idea of teaching defusing skills? In what circumstances, if any, might such skills useful? What sort of anti-social behaviours and issues concern you? What stops you from getting involved or intervening now - fear, embarrassment, uncertainty about what is appropriate?

MNHQ x

[RowanMumsnet]

[RowanMumsnet]

Oh no BeerTricks, that was me with the 'fishwife' comment, not Ben. Apologies.

[RowanMumsnet]

No worries BeerTricks

[WhoKnew2010]

fwiw, I am really offended by the fishwife comment, whoever wrote it.

I know the Woolwhich model and have read Ben's pamphlet for work. Professionally I would say that a lot is dependent on housing. For an US perspective read Schragger in the Michigan LR 2002 and for German, check out residential diversity and the rental protection there - more Jane Jacobs, less UK & US model of residential, spatial segregation (which may intensify with crime maps).

That's it. As a research method I think posting on mumsnet sucks - you're assuming a certain type of respondent which infuriates me.

[RowanMumsnet]

I am VERY sorry about the fishwife thing - have asked the eds to take it out. My bad. Must emphasise it had nothing to do with Ben at all.

[Rosa]

I have no idea - my thought is .. Adults who don't respect the simple rules and regulations don't have respect for others or have the capability to respect or understand why simple rules are in place. Thus they don't teach kids respect and kids behave how they like. Vicious circle. Community policing is / was an excellent way . As are youth centres - with activities suited for teenagers - even if it is a place to hang out - at least they are then off the streets. Then trained youth workers could maybe approach the subjects of violence or whatever in a way that they understand.
Until I find my self in a situation I am not sure if I would intervene esp if I had my dc with me.

[WhoKnew2010]

[RowanMumsnet]

Don't worry WhoKnew, I'm obviously not on top form today (even by my standards)

[GypsyMoth]

can't help but think if we keep complaining about this sort of thing then parks and playgrounds will be taken away from us in the 'cuts'!!!

i know,we should be able to enjoy facilities without hassle.....i realise this,BUT i guess any excuse to make further cuts in any leisure facilities will be leapt on by the government at this time.