“ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES” Anti-Social Behaviour Campaign

TYPES OF ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR INVOLVING YOUNG PEOPLE Criminal damage / vandalism Noise Littering Intimidating groups taking over public spaces Arson Entering derelict buildings Drugs and Alcohol Inconsiderate use of vehicles, off road bikes, quad bikes

What you may think is acceptable behaviour or just a bit of fun may not be acceptable or funny to another person Anti-social behaviour is taken seriously by the police and by local councils

Everyone has the right to go about their lives without fear HOW IT AFFECTS OTHERS You probably know that anti-social behaviour causes other people to be : Miserable and scared to leave the house which in turn can lead to losing contact with friends Worried or depressed Feeling alone Everyone has the right to go about their lives without fear

Are you getting pressure from your friends to get involved in anti-social behaviour? Maybe you have found yourself doing something that you know is wrong It is easy to be influenced by our friends: it makes us feel as though we belong we might be scared of losing friends if we said no making friends can be hard, so to risk losing them feels wrong

ACTIONS THAT CAN BE TAKEN Letters and interviews warning you to stop behaving badly Ordering groups of people to break up and leave the area, these are also known as ‘Dispersal Areas’ If you live in social housing it can have an impact on your family’s tenancy Individual support orders (where a young person involved in anti-social behaviour might have to attend counselling or guidance sessions) Fines

CONSEQUENCES Advice letter If you were found in a group that was committing ASB but cannot attribute individual blame then a letter is sent to your parents/guardians Level 1 letter Sent out by the Police to your parents/guardians if they can prove you have committed ASB personally Advice letter An example of the above would be an officer getting a report of a group throwing stones at a house. They then speak to the youths but cannot determine who threw the stone. Each youth in the group would get an Advice letter advising them on their association with a group committing ASB. However, if an officer was able to prove which of the youths in the group had thrown the stones that individual would get a Level 1 letter (with the rest receiving Advice letters).   The vast majority of youths who receive these kind of letters do not go on to commit further ASB to any great degree.

CONSEQUENCES Level 2 letter If your ASB behaviour continues the local policing team. Hand deliver a letter which you and your parents/guardians must sign stating you understand further ASB may lead to stricter measures   Once signed a copy is sent out to agencies that are already involved with you ie Social Services, Youth Offending Service, etc. And agencies that may be able to offer support going forward such as Stronger Families, etc. 

CONSEQUENCES Level 3 Meeting Held at your local policing station Firstly the Police and other involved agencies discuss diversions for your behaviour You and your parents/ guardians join them and discuss with them all what can be done to prevent any further ASB You are also warned that the next step in the process, should you continue to misbehave, is either an injunction or Criminal Behaviour Order

CONSEQUENCES Anti-social Behaviour Injunction/Criminal Behaviour Order Both of these have a number of prohibitions attached based on your past behaviour, ie Preventing you from using foul, abusive or threatening language in a public place Associating with certain people (including friends) in any public place A curfew requirement if the ASB is repeatedly occurring after a particular time in the evening Preventing you entering the area or a certain premise  

CONSEQUENCES Breaching the conditions of an Anti-social Behaviour Injunction/Criminal Behaviour Order will carry a penalty of For 14-17 years olds, a supervision order and potentially a civil detention order for up to 3 months Those older will be found in contempt of court and potentially serve up to 2 years in prison. The maximum term of an injunction for under 18s is 12 months. For over 18s the injunctions can either be fixed or indefinite Breaches of the conditions of the injunctions carry a penalty of a supervision order and potentially a civil detention order for up to 3 months for 14-17 years old. Those older will be found in contempt of court and potentially serve up to 2 years in prison. The maximum term of an injunction for under 18s is 12 months. For over 18s the injunctions can either be fixed or indefinite. 

You are in control of your own behaviour, so take action and start to feel better about yourself If you can't do it alone: talk to your parents or an adult you trust talk to a brother or sister talk to a teacher talk to your Safer Schools PCSO Call a confidential helpline such as Childline on 0800 1111