Anti-social behaviour bill doubted by businesses

The government introduced its Crime and Policing Bill last week

Plans to tackle anti-social behaviour have been backed by an MP despite business leaders doubting the schemes' effectiveness.

The government introduced a raft of measures including action against shoplifting, as part of its flagship Crime and Policing Bill last week.

Banbury's Labour MP Sean Woodcock, said his Oxfordshire constituents "wholeheartedly" welcomed the new legislation.

But the chair of Banbury's Chamber of Commerce said the new bill was "almost like dressing up for an occasion and then not being able to go".

Derek Hattenbach said shoplifting and anti-social behaviour were "very great problems", and were "putting people out of business" in the market town.

"Action is needed, but unfortunately just putting in place legislation to show the public you mean to do well is a very different thing from actually having police officers on the ground to act," he said.

Mr Hattenbach said Banbury didn't have the "man power" in terms of policing to "deal with the street crime as it is".

"If you haven't got them [police officers] there in the first place, then purely and simply it's just a soundbite for the population unfortunately," he added.

'Devastating impact'

Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber said there were "some useful things" in the new legislation.

But accepted that, despite a "big increase" in neighbourhood police officers over recent years, he would "desperately like to have more".

He said that additional government funding was due, but added that it would only pay for 50 new officers across the Thames Valley.

Under the bill, proposed Respect Orders would allow courts to impose restrictions on an individual's behaviour, just like an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (Asbo) - which were abolished in 2014.

They would also be able to compel offenders to attend programmes such as addiction treatment or anger management courses.

"Antisocial behaviour chips away at our communities' confidence and pride, undermines local businesses and can have a devastating impact on victims," Woodcock said.

"My constituents will welcome the introduction of tough new Respect Orders, and government action on shoplifting cannot come soon enough."

Addressing concerns over how the bill could be enforced, Woodcock said the measures would be "backed up by the recruitment of police officers".

"We need to make sure we have people on the streets able to resource this and those are our plans," he added.