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Ministers to name 'respect zones' Ministers reveal 'respect zones'
(about 2 hours later)
Forty "respect zones" in England and Wales which will receive funding to combat anti-social behaviour are to be named by the government. The government has announced 40 "respect zones" in England and Wales to receive extra funding to fight anti-social behaviour.
In return for the extra money the areas will use the full powers at their disposal to crack down on the problem. They will provide parenting classes, meetings between police and the public and "intervention projects", to tackle so-called "neighbours from hell".
Deprivation, truancy and school exclusion rates were among the factors used to decide the areas to target. The Conservatives dismissed the zones, which will get £6m, as a "gimmick".
Shadow home secretary David Davis has said the plans are an "admission of failure" by the government. But Downing St respect "tsar", Louise Casey, said they would point troubled communities in "the right direction".
Last year figures revealed about half of all anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) given out in England and Wales had been breached. class="bodl" href="#list">Click here for full list
Breaches name="top">
Asbos are civil orders imposed by courts that restrict people from certain activities or locations. The areas were chosen for reasons including high levels of deprivation, crime, truancy and school exclusion.
One National Audit Office report found that 35% of Asbo holders breached their order five or more times between 1999 and April 2006. Ms Casey said: "We want the 40 areas to show how we can take the programme forward and point people in the right direction as well as keeping up the unrelenting drive to tackle anti-social behaviour.
The Home Office said 47% of Asbo holders had breached their orders since 1999 - with the rate rising to 57% among juveniles. "These are the areas that are doing parenting classes and family projects that tackle the really, really difficult people in our communities."
Announcing the "respect zones" scheme in December, the government's "respect tsar" Louise Casey said: "The figures very clearly show that kids who are breaching Asbos are breaching everything else as well. Last year, figures revealed about half of all anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) given out in England and Wales had been breached.
"It is not the failure of the Asbo; it is the failure of getting the offending behaviour of that young person under control." 'Deliver results'
David Davis said at the time: "The fact the government are resorting to having to bribe local authorities to sign up to their gimmicks betrays just how unsuccessful they have been." Prime Minister Tony Blair is marking the announcement of the zones by attending a "face the people" session in Brighton, one of the cities taking part.
He called for "simple, practical measures" to catch and deter those who commit anti-social behaviour. He said: "The key to tackling anti-social behaviour successfully lies in local communities.
"Central government can provide the powers and the resources, as we are, but it is the police, local authorities and local people who have to use them effectively to deliver results.
"Communities know where the problems are - and they now know too how best to use new powers to tackle them."
Communities don't want gimmicks; they want police officers on their streets to take real action Nick Herbert, Conservatives
There had been "real progress", with communities across the country making full use of the powers, he added.
Home Secretary John Reid said: "Respect is a national programme and we expect all areas to play their part.
"We have had many successes but we recognise we have a long way to go to drive this problem from our towns and cities."
'Real action'
"There are no more excuses for local services not to take action to create stronger, safer communities."
Government figures show a 90% increase in acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs), with more than 18,000 used over the last three years.
The Home Office said the 40 respect areas were not the worst in England and Wales for anti-social behaviour but had been chosen from a longer list of those with significant challenges.
Shadow police minister Nick Herbert said: "The government has cut 4,000 promised police community support officers from the forces covering these so-called 'respect areas'.
"Communities don't want gimmicks like 'respect handbooks' - they want police officers on their streets to take real action against anti-social behaviour.
"Today's announcement conspicuously omits any reference to Asbos - hardly surprising when over half are breached and teenagers now treat them as a badge of honour."
The 40 respect zones are:
Birmingham City Council, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Blackpool Council, Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council, Bournemouth Borough Council, Brighton and Hove City Council, Bristol City Council, Burnley Borough Council, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, Coventry City Council, Derby City Council, Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council, Exeter City Council, Gloucester City Council, Harlow District Council, Hastings Borough Council, Ipswich Borough Council, Kingston upon Hull City Council, Kirklees Metropolitan Council, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Leeds City Council, Leicester City Council, Liverpool City Council, Manchester City Council, Middlesbrough Council, Newcastle City Council, Norwich City Council, Nottingham City Council, Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, Plymouth City Council, Portsmouth City Council, Salford City Council, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Sheffield City Council, South Tyneside Council, Southampton City Council, Southend on Sea Borough Council, Sunderland City Council, Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
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