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Anti-social behaviour act 2014
Published: 18/11/2014
New legislative powers affecting Flintshire County Council in relation to
anti-social behaviour have been discussed at a Cabinet meeting today (Tuesday
18 November).
The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 has recently come into
force simplifying the approach and enabling effective local action to control
and reduce it.
The legislation introduces new powers for councils to tackle anti-social
behaviour including a ‘New Absolute Ground for Possession’ to speed up the
eviction of a tenant where they, a member of their household or visitor has
been convicted of a serious offence, like drug dealing at the property.
Two other new additions are Community Protection Notices (CPN) and Public
Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO). The Community Protection Notice targets those
responsible for ongoing problems or nuisances which affect the community’s
quality of life. Public Spaces Protection Orders impose conditions on the use
of an area such as street drinking, roaming dogs in parks or groups of people
causing noise issues in open spaces when issues are detrimental to the local
community.
Public Protection officers who undertake community work including neighbourhood
housing officers, neighbourhood wardens, anti-social behaviour coordinators and
pollution control officers will be authorised to carry out the enforcement.
The Council will continue to work in partnership with North Wales Police, Betsi
Cadwaladr Health Board and other social housing providers to reduce anti-social
behaviour and a new review system will also be set up for victims if they feel
their complaints are not being properly addressed.
Councillor Kevin Jones, Cabinet Member for Waste Strategy, Public Protection
and Leisure said: “The Council is committed to tackling anti-social behaviour
and these new laws should be fairer to victims and make it easier and quicker
for officers to remove tenants who cause problems. They will also address any
issues that may occur in open spaces in the County giving more powers to
enforce nuisance behaviour.”