Record investment to tackle antisocial behaviourFalkirk East MSP Cathy Peattie has welcomed further funding by the Scottish Executive to tackle antisocial behaviour, which will give Falkirk Council £880,000 for 2007/8. "This is a further boost to the fight against antisocial behaviour in our communities." said Cathy. "We are totally committed to tackling antisocial behaviour. The police and local authorities have been given the powers they need to ensure antisocial behaviour does not blight the lives of local residents, and this commitment has been reinforced through funding to fight antisocial behaviour. "This investment could be used for measures such as employing community wardens, setting up youth projects to keep young people off the streets, expanding antisocial behaviour teams, or mediation and further support for victims and witnesses." The money (total £33.16 million) will go to community planning partnerships in each of Scotland 32 local authority areas for the financial year 2007-08. Falkirk funding by year: 2004/5 - 642,000 2005/6 - 712,800 2006/7 - 835,500 2007/8 - 880,000 total - 3,070,300 Since the Antisocial Behaviour Act came into force two years ago, dispersal powers have now been used on 12 occasions and 21 communities have won respite following the use of closure orders to shut down premises at the centre of intimidation, noise or disorder. Nearly 2,000 'boy racers' have now been warned under the new seizure of vehicles powers and 170 have had their vehicles seized. Around 1,900 noisy neighbours have been formally warned that their behaviour is unacceptable and 118 households who have chosen to ignore such warnings have been fined as a result. |
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