Through the casework that comes up through
his regular local surgeries, Jim Knight
has long been aware that anti-social behaviour
- which encompasses problems like drunkenness,
vandalism and noisy neighbours - is a major
issue in the lives of many of his constituents.
The Crown Prosecution Service was last year
given new powers to deal with persistent
offenders in this area - namely anti-social
behaviour orders, or ABSOs - but Jim found
that there was a reluctance on the part
of the CPS to issue them. In June 2003 he
called for a crackdown on neighbourhood
vandals, and for the government to give
clear guidance to magistrates about how
and when ABSOs can be used; and for a "get-tough"
stance to be subsequently adopted in South
Dorset, like that in Manchester where more
than 100 ABSOs have been issued against
persistent troublemakers.
On 21st July Jim met with representatives
from Dorset Police, Weymouth and Portland
Housing and the borough council to discuss
how a multi-agency approach being used in
Weymouth, "Operation Bridge",
was starting to make a difference. Police
are attaching much greater priority given
public concern, and working closely with
Weymouth and Portland Housing to address
problems at an earlier stage - with WPH
using new powers in relation to evictions
for anti-social behaviour. Since this multi-agency
approach started, Jim has been attending
regular meetings in Littlemoor and Portland
and has been encouraged by the progress
made. He last attended a meeting at Littlemoor
on the 29th April 2004, and the Friday before
chaired a meeting on Easton Square in Portland
when the police agreed to use their new
Section 30 powers (a new anti-social behaviour
law recently went through Parliament which
has given the police greater ability to
move on or arrest people found to be in
contravention of the Act)to designate Easton
Square as an area where people cannot gather
in groups and act in an anti-social manner.
Weymouth seafront already has this designation.
The police have also agreed to open a new
station on Portland.
Jim has campaigned for funding for Community
Support Officers for the Borough. As of
May 2004, 6 CSOs will start in the Borough
shortly.
