Residents 'helpless' to stop anti-social behaviour

Sir Keir Starmer has said "we need to crack down" on anti-social behaviour after residents and business owners in the South of England have said they feel "helpless".

Speaking to BBC South's political editor Peter Henley ahead of the Labour Party conference the Prime Minister said that anti-social behaviour "shouldn't be happening in any community".

It comes after residents in Southampton and Portsmouth shared stories of violence and criminal behaviour in their neighbourhoods.

The cities' councils and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary have said they take these incidents "seriously" and are working together to tackle the issue.

The Prime Minister called for "more neighbourhood police" and said the government is making this an "absolute focus".

The Housing and Communities Secretary Steve Reed admitted the anti-social behaviour "is out of control," when he was questioned by BBC Radio Solent about the rise in young people causing trouble in areas of Southampton.

He said it will "deter people from wanting to go and spend time in the area" if young people are "running wild".

He called for more action from the police and blamed a lack of "pride in the area" as one of the reasons for this sort of behaviour and announced that the government plans to give up to £20 million to some communities so that local people can take over empty shops and use them for things like youth spaces to get young people off the streets and out of trouble.

Teenagers have been captured on CCTV targeting shops in Southampton with anti-social behaviour

'Children first, offenders second'

Southampton City Council said it has commissioned a Youth Outreach Service operating three evenings per week in Shirley High Street in Southampton, where many of the offences have taken place.

It added that it has increased security measures in the area with more CCTV and security guards in operation.

Supt Alex Charge from Hampshire Police, who is the District Commander for Southampton said the force takes anti-social behaviour very seriously and has increased its patrols in the area.

He added: "We've got to remember, these are 13 and 14-year-old children so the whole criminal justice service will look at that and deal with them as children first and offenders second, which does make it slightly more challenging than if we were dealing with an adult."

He said majority of the young people are just looking for something to do and they work with the youth services to support them but there is a small "hardcore group" which has to go through the criminal justice system.

He admitted that every police force across the country would like to see more local officers on the streets and said they are going through a recruitment phase at the moment, but changes will not be immediate.

Community wardens operating in Portsmouth say they feel "massively" stretched

The national voice for local authorities, the Local Government Association (LGA) said extra pressure is being put on the already stretched councils who are having to step in due to a lack of police resources.

Councillor Matt Boughton, chair of the LGA safer and stronger communities committee said: "Councils recognise that anti-social behaviour is not solely a policing issue, rather one that requires a coordinated approach across councils, communities and partners. However, while councils are innovating and responding where they can, they need adequate funding to make a real difference for local communities."

Sandra in Portsmouth wants to leave her current address because she feels like she is at war in her own home

In Portsmouth, Ritchie who has lived in the city for 12 years, said drug dealing takes place at the local church and going to the police and the local authorities felt like "going around in circles".

He described his neighbourhood as "a haven for degenerates".

His thoughts were echoed by Sandra who said she wants to leave the area after her neighbour threatened her with knives and an airgun.

Standing next to her car which has been covered with graffiti she said: "I'm still fighting every day, every day I'm still having war with life here."

Sandra's car can be seen with white graffiti on the door

Police 'weren't interested' in catching offenders

In response to this a Portsmouth City Council spokesperson said it takes this very seriously and is committed in tackling the scourge of anti-social behaviour in the city despite cuts in government funding over the last decade.

It added: "We know the effect it can have on residents' lives and we're working hard, alongside police and other partners, to tackle it and ensure our neighbourhoods are safe, welcoming places."

Jason and Jim are among the 16 community wardens in Portsmouth who have been trying to help in neighbourhoods like Sandra's.

They have limited police powers to respond to anti-social behaviour but said they are "massively" stretched as "a lot of the police stuff is being downgraded to antisocial behaviour".

Businesses have also been targeted and Neil, who runs a car repair firm in Portsmouth, says his place of work has been repeatedly hit by vandals.

"We've had cars set on fire in the past, things being stolen from cars, attempts to steal cars," he said.

He remembered a time when he reported an incident to the police where people were throwing items off of a roof but he said the officers "weren't interested".

He said that on "more than one occasion" he has had to chase vandals away himself.

He added: "I feel helpless. I feel unless I do it myself, I'm not getting any assistance from the authorities."

His story is not unique to Portsmouth and on a local high street in Southampton businesses have said that vandalism has become a regular occurrence.

Neil says he feels "helpless" to prevent the anti-social behaviour

District Commander for Portsmouth, Supt Paul Markham said: "As with any city nationally, anti-social behaviour impacts our communities and we work with our partners to tackle this issue."

He added that they take every report seriously and "works in partnership with Portsmouth City Council to tackle repeat offenders and find long term solutions to reducing anti-social behaviour".