Council leaders unveil plan to re-claim streets from young thugs » Local Government » 24dash.com

Councils must re-claim the streets to tackle youth crime and restore order to communities, the most senior figure in local government said today.

Following the fatal shooting of an 11-year-old boy in Liverpool and a spate of other gun-related murders, the Local Government Association, which represents more than 400 councils in England and Wales, has set out a five point plan to crackdown on youth violence.

Sir Simon Milton, chairman of the LGA, said the five points represented core actions that local authorities across the country should implement to protect the public and rescue young people from a life of crime:

Take back control of the streets through visible figures of authority including police, police community support officers and wardens. Demonstrate leadership and work with all law enforcement agencies to share intelligence and operate joint patrols Make sure residents have real time access to people patrolling the streets so they feel protected, and encourage co-operation in the fight against crime by ensuring people who report intelligence are told what action is then taken Make full use of all sanctions and available including ASBOS, Acceptable Behaviour Contracts, controlled drinking zones and dispersal orders and provide genuine alternative activities for young people that ensures active participation Adopt a tough licensing strategy which seeks out and punishes problem premises

Sir Simon Milton said: "Last week's truly appalling murder of an 11-year-old boy has sickened the entire nation. The deeply worrying increase in gun-related crime among young people is something all authorities have a duty and responsibility to tackle head on at once.

"There are many agencies with a responsibility for tackling youth crime, including the police, social services, youth offender teams and schools. It must be the responsibility of councils to ensure everyone works together to steer young people away from crime, and to protect the public.

"In today's ever-changing and fast-paced society, people quite rightly want to feel safe and protected. It is imperative that councils demonstrate real leadership and place the order agenda at the heart of everything they do.

"Councils must seize the agenda and re-claim the streets. There are many examples from across the country of local authorities doing excellent work to tackle youth crime, but the shocking and appalling number of murders on our streets this year shows there is an urgent need to do more."

Sir Simon added it was imperative the public felt local authorities and the police were acting on their concerns.

He said: "On too many occasions, members of the public will tip off the authorities with intelligence about an individual or a gang, and then hear nothing more. This sort of approach breeds alienation and encourages vigilantism. We have to make sure that people think their concerns are being acted upon.

"There should be no 'no go' areas for councils and the police. We need excellent intelligence on the ground, in every street and every neighbourhood. This can only be achieved if the public has confidence in us to respond to their concerns."

Sir Simon stressed it was vital young people were provided with genuine opportunities and alternatives to prevent them slipping into a life of crime.

"Official council youth provision is not always reaching those at greatest risk. We also need to back imaginative voluntary sector provision which can offer attractive alternatives and give young people the sense of structure and belonging that they are not getting at home. There is also more that councils can do to support and strengthen families but we have to recognise that these are long-term solutions. In the short-term we need to re-claim control of the streets.

"One of the reasons people become members of gangs is, perversely, because they provide a sense of identity and hierarchy that is now missing from much of our society. We have to urgently re-introduce a visible sense of order and authority to our streets as soon as possible."

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