Time for Action as 500,000 Anti-Social Behaviour Complaints Go Unreported

Tackling Anti Social Behaviour A Priority

15 March 2011
Scottish Labour’s candidate Alan Duffill has welcomed the announcement of five key areas that Labour intend to focus on to stamp down on the scourge of antisocial behaviour in communities across Scotland

The five point plan was unveiled as Scottish Labour released figures estimating that as many as half a million antisocial behaviour complaints went unreported last year .

He said,

"Time and time again people are suffering the effects of antisocial behaviour, but not reporting it because they think nothing will get done.

"It is estimated about half a million incidents of anti social conduct go unreported.

"This is at the same time as local authority cuts to community wardens in Aberdeenshire.

"Decent people are left feeling like prisoners in their own homes.

"Our five point action plan offers simple, practical steps that will give power to local communities improving how antisocial behaviour is tackled and will give communities quicker relief from the scourge of anti social behaviour.

"Nobody who wreaks havoc in our communities should go unpunished.

"I’ve been out and about speaking to people across Banff and Buchan and I have heard how helpless people often feel when faced with bad neighbours or anti social conduct.

"The package of measures will improve how antisocial behaviour is dealt with and speed up the process so that the justice is delivered more quickly.

"We will bring in new powers such as allowing community councils and residents groups to demand fast track ASBOs, allowing housing associations and councils to impose behaviour contracts to stop nuisance neighbours and introducing drink banning orders in recognition that many incidents of antisocial behaviour are fuelled by alcohol.

"We should no longer be turning a blind eye to conduct by a minority when that conduct is affecting the day to day existence, peace of mind and happiness of so many decent, ordinary and law abiding citizens."

Labour "On the Side of Hard Working Families"

14 March 2011

Commenting on Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray’s announcement that Labour will commit to a two year council tax freeze in the next parliament, Scottish Labour candidate for Banffshire and Buchan said it shows Labour are "on the side of hard working families".

He said,

"Labour wants to freeze the council tax for two years so local families don’t pay the price of the Tory cuts. The Tories are back and doing exactly what we knew they would.

"It just isn’t fair that hard working people are the hardest hit by Tory cuts, the rise in VAT and fuel prices and their cuts to child benefit, tax credits and support for families lie just round the corner – not to mention another fuel duty hike.

"They fail to understand the daily struggle local people have to make ends meet.

"We need a Labour government in Scotland more than ever before. Our council tax freeze will be properly funded to protect both families and frontline services.

"The SNP’s proposed replacement of a local income tax would be a blow to families and make Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK hitting those on average wages hardest meaning an average couple in a modest home paying over £500 a year more.

"Our two year council tax freeze, followed by a cap to keep any future rise below inflation, would really help local people in this time of need.

"We need a strong government in Scotland standing up for Scotland and helping people fight painful Tory cuts"