Anti-social behaviour in St Albans gets the BBC's attention

The BBC have reported on the action St Albans City and District Council are taking to seek to improve its dealings with anti social behaviour.

The Council is enlisting the help of local residents as it forms a new policy to tackle aspects of anti-social behaviour including drug dealing, noisy neighbours, ball games, noisy pets, anti-social drinking in public places by launching an online questionnaire for local residents. The five question survey can be completed on the Council's website here.

One of the key new areas the Council are looking at is the impact of risk on those witnessing anti-social behaviour. Well now it's being proposed that the Council Community Protection Team will undertake an assessment of the risks you face if you do witness an act of anti-social behaviour and if the risk is deemed high there will be additional support and guidance for you.

I'm sure we've all been in places where we're a bit frightened to see what's going on, and look to avoid any eye contact with trouble makers? Personally, I'm ill at ease using the cash point outside Barclays in the centre of town, in full view of the town's professional drinkers. And likewise, I don't welcome going near the McDonalds at the bottom of Holywell Hill when there's a surge of hooded youths congregated there in the evenings. Are there similar anti-social hot-spots that you feel uncomfortable in or avoid in St Albans?

The proposed policy also seeks to clarify which council department is responsible for dealing with which type of anti-social behaviour, so if there is an issue, it's going to be easier to speak to the right person and for them to be able to act on your information. I welcome that although I must say that when the side of our house was sprayed with graffiti, the Council were pro-active in getting it removed and contacted me about it before I had the chance to call them!

Councillor Beric Read, Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement and Localism at St Albans City and District Council, said: "The Council's wants to continue to improve the way it handles cases of anti-social behaviour. As a result, we are reviewing our approach and would like to find out residents' views on our proposed policy. We recognise that some behaviour can have a negative impact on people's lives and we want to be sure we are handling cases in the right way. If you are concerned about anti-social behaviour in the District, please complete the survey and give us your views. "

And your views are welcome here on St Albans People. So let us know if you've witnessed anti social behaviour in St Albans, been subjected to noisy neighbours, a neighbouring noisy pet, ball games encroaching on your property…or whatever's on your mind.