An article examined the policing of anti-social driving by youths in a built-up urban environment in Scotland, in the context of concern and pressure from businesses, residents, the local authority, media, and government. It said that policing practices were shaped by the introduction of anti-social behaviour legislation that had redefined behaviours as deviant or anti-social, and considered the success of the use of this legislation and the impact this had on police relations with young drivers.
Source: Karen Lumsden, 'Anti-social behaviour legislation and the policing of boy racers: dispersal orders and seizure of vehicles', Policing, Volume 8 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Jun
The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 was given Royal assent. The Act provided for measures (mostly related to England and Wales) to tackle anti-social behaviour, forced marriage, dangerous dogs, and illegal firearms, as well as to make provisions regarding court and tribunal fees, and remove the defence of marital coercion.
Source: Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, Home Office, TSO
Links: Act | Explanatory notes
Date: 2014-Mar
An article examined the efficacy of multi-dimensional treatment foster care for adolescents (MTFC-A) compared with usual forms of care for young people at risk in foster care in England. MTFC-A was a wrap-around, multi-agency intervention for children and young people with challenging behaviour, trialled in England from 2002. The article said there was no evidence that the use of MTFC-A resulted in better outcomes than usual care and, while the intervention might have been more beneficial for young people with anti-social behaviour, it proved less beneficial than usual treatment for those without.
Source: Jonathan Green, Nina Biehal, Chris Roberts, Jo Dixon, Catherine Kay, Elizabeth Parry, Justine Rothwell, Anna Roby, Dharmi Kapadia, Stephen Scott, and Ian Sinclair, 'Multidimensional treatment foster care for adolescents in English care: randomised trial and observational cohort evaluation', British Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 204
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Mar
A new book examined the practices of 'soft' policing through the perspective of different front-line agencies (including the police, social work teams, and the youth justice service), and their collaborative response toward young people involved in low-level anti-social behaviour.
Source: Daniel McCarthy, 'Soft' Policing: The collaborative control of anti-social behaviour, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary
Date: 2014-Mar
A study examined policy and practice on anti-social behaviour in Wales. It examined: the practices of social landlords; areas in which landlords might improve practice; and the effectiveness of Welsh government policy and guidance in supporting this work. The report highlighted the importance of partnership/collaborative working, early intervention, communication (with victims and perpetrators), and consistency, and noted the difficulty in evaluating both the scale of the problem and the effectiveness of outcomes. The report made recommendations.
Source: Anne Delaney, David Hedges, Simon Inkson, and Joanne McNally, Wales Anti-social Behaviour: Policy and practice review, Welsh Government
Links: Report | Summary | Welsh Government press release
Date: 2014-Feb
An article examined the relationship between evidence and policy, drawing on a study of the development of anti-social behaviour policy in England and Scotland to examine: the classification of different types of evidence; whether there were systematic linkages between policy context and evidence type; and whether different forms of evidence were more influential at different points of the policy cycle. The paper considered the policy implications.
Source: Jon Bannister and Anthony O'Sullivan, 'Evidence and the antisocial behaviour policy cycle', Evidence & Policy, Volume 10 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Feb
An article examined interpretations of the meaning of 'anti-social behaviour' among adults and young people, drawing on a study in Greater London. It said that interpretations varied according to the age of the person naming the behaviour, as well as the age of the perceived 'victim' and 'perpetrator'. The article considered how perceptions of risk influenced interpretations.
Source: Susie Hulley, 'What is anti-social behaviour? An empirical study of the impact of age on interpretations', Crime Prevention & Community Safety, Volume 16
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Feb
A report examined the links between anti-social behaviour and mental health, and its impact in London boroughs. It said that mental health was widely recognised as related to ASB, that many boroughs reported an increasing impact, and that boroughs were firmly committed to supporting individuals with mental health needs, balancing this with the protection of communities and individuals. It said there was a range of promising practice in place, including examples of multi-agency triage that enabled appropriate care pathways to be identified. It discussed the need for further work.
Source: Anti-Social Behaviour and Mental Health, London Councils
Links: Report
Date: 2014-Jan