The grassroots
Anastasia De Waal, 12 March 2010
This week the Home Office published a new report entitled ‘The Drivers and Perceptions of Anti-Social Behaviour’. It attempts to clarify the difference between an objective measure of antisocial behaviour and perceived antisocial behaviour, as well as delineating strategies at neighbourhood and national levels.
The core message conveyed is a need to shift policy towards tackling the root causes of antisocial behaviour, as opposed to merely keeping a lid on the existing perpetrators. At face value this appears to be an uncontroversial approach.
The ultimate emphasis is to be on empowering local communities and encouraging social cohesion within neighbourhoods by involving everyone in decision-making when it comes to local policy. This is to entail a number of strategies. Firstly encouraging the dissemination of ‘success stories’ in tackling antisocial behaviour. Secondly, challenging theories of ‘social correctedness’ and thirdly, cultivating the role of the media in circulating stereotypes.
In short, the report implies that the root problem is negative thought, rather than activity. Yet, an incalculable oversight is made: it is taken for granted that current measures in place are adequate.
This view was substantiated by Alan Johnson yesterday. Whilst admitting that the victims of antisocial behaviour are ignored, he pointed the finger at the implementation of policies, rather than the policies themselves: ‘We have got all the powers in place to tackle anti-social behaviour. What we need to ensure is that all the agencies, not just the police, are working together’.
It can be assumed then, that Johnson is satisfied with the police’s response to antisocial behaviour. However, a snapshot survey by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary found that officers do not turn up to 23% of antisocial behaviour complaints and more than half of the 43 police forces in England and Wales cannot automatically identify repeat victims of crime- one in five of whom are disabled- leaving officers ignorant of vulnerable people in need of help. Underreporting is another issue: in spite of 3.6 million reports of antisocial behaviour being made in 2008-9- a figure which is already alarming when juxtaposed with the total recorded crime statistic of 4.7million- officials believe the true figure to be twice as high.
So is Johnson’s benighted confidence a way for the Government to wriggle out of having to commit to further expenditure on anti-social behaviour if re-elected? Or is it to dodge admission of further inadequacies, either pecuniary or practical, in the £100million Youth Crime Action Plan? Either way, something is failing to figure here. The root causes of antisocial behaviour, theoretically the Government’s current focus, are manifestly not being addressed and those on the ground are not being consulted at all. Surely in order to tackle antisocial behaviour communities need to be consulted: start by ask them whether they believe current measures are adequate – or risk dividing communities irreparably.
Lara Natale
There is clearly a fundamental problem here. Surely, there is NO root cause to anti-social behaviour; rather it is part of a viscous cycle. Thus, no start nor end particularly, thus no root cause as such, merely conditions reinforced by events that compound conditions et al.
That said, three elements of the cycle are (1) the behaviour of the perpetrator, (2) the (in)action of the Government, (3) the response of wider society.
1) Perpetrators come to believe that subjecting others to their frustrations is rewarding. It provides both sport and a sense of importance; little different than when a child much younger throws a tantrum to get attention.
2) The Government concur this is an acceptable expression: flaws in an un-just society are the reason for the frustration and criminality: not the assumption of the perpetrator. The narrative is opportune, since it provides the acceptable excuse to expand powers, authorities and tax collecting. Subsequently, resources and exemptions from the law are provided that reward the perpetrator with justification for the behaviour.
3) Wider society are apathetic in exercising critical judgement, thus broadly accept the Government agenda. (For instance, I hear very frequently that “there is nothing for a young person to do”, as being an excuse for ASB: However, I seldom hear the appropriate response i.e. “You speak nonsense – There is nothing stopping these people playing football, running, learning to draw, helping in the community, walking, talking, playing games with friends, learning a musical instrument, learning to sing, or dance, doing a job, visiting family, watching films, holding house parties, visiting new places, riding a bike, reading, listening to music, understanding wildlife, conservation, creating a club, building a website, playing cricket… or golf, hockey, badminton, boxing, bowls…. etc?”
So, if there IS a root cause of anti-social behaviour (which I don’t really think there is), I would say it is this: There is a split second between the moment that the Government makes a statement and the population digests it. It should be a moment where there is critical evaluation: of whether the proposed measure is adequate, truthful, reasoned…
I think such a critical evaluation, in this case of ASB, would weigh up the situation and conclude that Government were playing self-interested political games with this issue and little else. Given the misery ASB causes, there would be clarity on the true victims and palpable anger and disgust, at both Government and criminal alike, for conspiring to allow this misery to perpetuate. They might also see through the little stunt of not capturing repeat offence figures, which would otherwise highlight the argument not to return serial offenders back on the streets each time.
It would be this disdain and ire that stopped most of the criminals. Those committing ASB acts would be treated rather as we treat racists, or wife-beaters. And we would treat the Government rather as we treat any Corporate, culpable of criminal neglect.