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Perceptions of Anti Social Behaviour

News Release
PR/SHP 102
17 October 2007

Hastings perceived to be less anti-social, national survey reveals

Hastings has had the third biggest drop in perceptions that anti-social behaviour is high, according to the largest national survey on this topic.

While 94% of local authorities saw a drop in perceptions, the reduction in Hastings (30%) was double the national average (15%). In East Sussex as a whole, perceptions that anti-social behaviour is high have increased by 5%.

The figures are based on data from the 2003/04 and 2006/07 Local Government User Satisfaction Survey (LGUSS).

David Furness, Community Safety Coordinator with the Safer Hastings Partnership, said, "This huge decrease in the proportion of people perceiving anti-social behaviour to be high in Hastings shows that partners have made tremendous in-roads into what was a huge problem here."

David continued, "I am sure that the Hastings Borough Council Warden Service and the extra Police Community Support Officers that patrol our streets, combined with the joined up working with all our partners in dealing with anti-social behaviour, has played a vital role."

The Government's Respect Task Force (now the Youth Task Force) confirmed that their detailed surveys conducted with MORI reveal that leaflets telling people we have taken action, such as those the Safer Hastings Partnership produces detailing ASBOs given to street drinkers, make a significant difference to local perceptions.

These have contributed to the 30% reduction from 60% to 30% in people's perceptions of anti-social behaviour being high in Hastings.

David added, "We continue to work with our partners to reduce anti-social behaviour in all its forms, and we are confident that perceptions will keep changing in line with our robust approach to tackling issues that have a negative impact on people's quality of life."