RISHI SUNAK: No one should have to live in fear – or be plagued by litter and graffiti

I grew up in a community where people were expected to behave with good manners and respect; where we were bound by the golden rule to treat others as you would like to be treated yourself.

So when a small selfish minority think they can go around ruining things for others with appalling antisocial behaviour, it makes me angry. 

Too many people suffer from gangs tearing up communities, hurling abuse and making people feel under attack in their own homes.

Too many women and girls don’t feel safe walking alone. And we’ve all seen the graffiti scrawled all over town centres – sometimes even on war memorials.

It’s shocking and wrong. It’s not fair on the vast majority of people who stick to the rules and abide by the law—and it isn’t inevitable. It can be dealt with, and it will be.

Rishi Sunak: ‘So when a small selfish minority think they can go around ruining things for others with appalling antisocial behaviour, it makes me angry’

We’ve all seen the graffiti scrawled all over town centres – sometimes even on war memorials, says Rishi Sunak (file image)

Why should anyone be made to live in fear because of the persistent bad behaviour of others?

READ MORE: Offenders who dump rubbish illegally will see on-the-spot fines double to £1,000 as part of a new crackdown on anti-social behaviour 

Why should whole neighbourhoods suffer due to other people’s litter, graffiti and fly-tipping?

It offends me, and it offends you too. This is not the country we are, and it’s not the kind of communities we want. 

I know Mail readers care deeply about the places where you live – just look at the fantastic support you have given to the Great British Spring Clean in recent years.

That’s why we’re launching a new action plan to stamp out anti-social behaviour for good – because when threats emerge in our communities, it is right that we act.

First, we’re going to treat anti-social behaviour with the urgency it deserves. We’re going to target the worst affected areas with intensive hotspot policing, meaning more uniformed officers going after prolific offenders. 

This will start with ten trailblazer areas, before expanding across England and Wales next year.

Once caught, and within as little as 48 hours, we’re going to make offenders repair the damage they have done – an approach we call Immediate Justice.

Communities will have a say in the kinds of punishments they face, whether that’s picking up litter, cleaning graffiti or washing police cars. Justice will be done, and it will be seen to be done.

Too many women and girls don’t feel safe walking alone, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says, ‘Why should anyone be made to live in fear because of the persistent bad behaviour of others?’ (file image)

We’re going to target the worst affected areas with intensive hotspot policing, meaning more uniformed officers going after prolific offenders (file image) 

To rebuild public trust, we’re also going to bring in a new digital tool for people to report antisocial behaviour more easily and receive updates when justice has been done. 

Second, we’re going to take a zero-tolerance approach. We’re going to put an end to groups of young people using nitrous oxide, so-called laughing gas, by banning it.

And we’re going to expand drug testing on arrest, to include drugs such as ecstasy and cannabis, as well as extending the range of situations that can trigger a drugs test in the first place.

Why should whole neighbourhoods suffer due to other people’s litter, graffiti and fly-tipping? (file image)

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak: ‘We’re going to put an end to groups of young people using nitrous oxide, so-called laughing gas, by banning it’ (file image)

We’ll make it easier for landlords to evict persistently disruptive tenants, and bring in new tools to deal with nuisance begging and street activity that makes areas feel less safe.

Third, we’re going to increase both the amount and the use of on-the-spot fines for litter, graffiti and fly-tipping. 

We’re going to give councils the powers to bring empty shops back into use and support the regeneration of more local green spaces and parks.

And we’re going to invest in one million extra hours of support for young people in anti-social behaviour hotspots.

I want people to feel safe and proud in the places where they live. I want us to build stronger communities, places where businesses want to invest, people have the opportunities they need to thrive, and where everyone can look towards a better future. 

This is a plan to help us deliver just that.

Source: Read Full Article