Home Office Press Releases

To make a report phone 0845 605 2222

IT’S YOUR CALL – POWER IN LOCAL PEOPLE’S HANDS TO TACKLE

A new dedicated action line for the public to report anti-social behaviour was launched by Home Office minister, Hazel Blears, today as part of a drive to increase community participation in tackling yobbish behaviour.

The It’s Your Call phone line, launched in the North East, will be available in 25 specially appointed TOGETHER action areas around the country. The action line will be introduced in each of the areas over the next six weeks. Local people in these areas are being asked to report the problems they see in their neighbourhoods, from graffiti to abandoned cars and nuisance neighbours.

Posters and phone boxes promoting the action line number – 0845 605 2222 – will be displayed throughout participating areas and residents will receive flyers through their letterboxes. After complaints have been dealt with, feedback cards explaining the action taken will be delivered to houses in the neighbourhood.

Ms Blears said:

“What we’re saying today is simple – It’s Your Call. Pick up the phone and make a difference. Together we can tackle anti-social behaviour.

“We have made significant progress in tackling anti-social behaviour and reclaiming our communities for the law-abiding majority. We have brought in tough new laws and an ambitious national action plan - providing the tools and the expertise for police and local agencies to tackle the yobbish minority who can blight communities and make people’s lives hell.

“But there is still more to do. We need the public to play their part too and take some responsibility for where they live. Engaging local people is vital to create strong communities and tackle the thugs who can destroy people’s quality of life and ruin neighbourhoods.

“It’s Your Call is a new drive to bring public services and local people closer together, putting power in the hands of local people to get things done. Twenty five areas have made a clear commitment to step up their response to anti-social behaviour and I want people in these areas to come forward, make a call that makes a difference, and help make our communities better places to live.”

Doreen Sheppard, national winner of the TOGETHER Taking A Stand Awards 2004, said:

“This actionline is good news for any resident who has had to endure intimidation from nuisance neighbours, damage to their property or graffiti and rubbish littering their streets.

“Having worked closely with my local authority and police, I know the impact my efforts have had in improving our estate hugely for all of us living here. I would encourage those with access to the service to pick up the phone and report anti-social behaviour where you see it.”

Councillor Dame Sally Powell, Chair of the Local Government Association's Safer Communities Board, said:

“Local authorities are committed to addressing the concerns of local people and we are pleased to be part of this drive to tackle anti-social behaviour where it arises. More often than not it is with the co-operation and participation of the general public that anti-social behaviour is effectively dealt with and we hope this scheme will make it easier for law abiding citizens, together with their local authority, to crack down on problems in their local area.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Home Office in identifying any further support and powers that may be beneficial for communities and local government as they tackle the issues that are important locally.”

It’s Your Call aims to increase access to local authority services which tackle anti-social behaviour problems, such as nuisance neighbours, vandalism or graffiti. Participating areas have made a commitment to stepping up their response to anti-social behaviour.

Notes to Editors:

1.      It’s Your Call will operate in 25 participating areas, it is not a national number. It will operate in four areas in the North East from today – Gateshead, Newcastle, South Tyneside and Sunderland. The actionline will go live in the remaining 21 areas over the next six weeks.

2.      Hazel Blears launched the actionline during a visit to North Benwell in Newcastle today.

3.      In participating areas callers will be asked to give their postcode, which will enable their call to be routed to the local service. Outside of participating areas, callers will be advised to contact their local council or police in the usual way.

4.      The participating areas are:

3.      The Anti-Social Behaviour Act received Royal Assent on November 21 2003 (Home Office press notice 317/2003).

4.      On October 14 2003, the Government launched the Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan and the TOGETHER campaign. These set out what practical help the Government is giving to councils and other local agencies to tackle anti-social behaviour (Home Office press notice 278/2003).

5.      50 Action Areas across England, committed to raising their response to tackling anti-social behaviour, were announced on 28 October 2004 (Home Office press notice 336/2004).

6.      The Home Office report ‘One Year On’ published on 28 October 2004 outlines the take up of new powers across the country and progress in tackling anti-social behaviour (Home Office press notice 336/2004). To view the report go to: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime/antisocialbehaviour/index.html.

7.      The Cleaner, Safer, Greener Communities website www.cleanersafergreener.gov.ukprovides a single access point to Government and agency information on funding and ideas on making public spaces cleaner, safer and greener. The site is aimed at the public, community groups and leaders, and sector professionals on community and government projects.

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