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WE have been fairly critical of the current government which seems to think it is possible to spend or legislate away all of society’s problems.

Not all of the legislation they have enacted over the past 12 years has been a flop, however.

One of the more successful has been one which enables special measures to be taken to address the antisocial behaviour problems and improve the quality of life for the local community and also protect young people at risk..

Section 30 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 provides the police and local authorities with a powerful tool to tackle anti-social behaviour by groups of people.  

The powers are designed to reduce anti-social behaviour problems in defined areas such as housing estates.

They do not prevent people entering an area, but do allow the police to take action to disperse groups if they believe that their presence or behaviour has resulted, or is likely to result, in any member of the community being harassed, intimidated, alarmed or distressed.

Individuals can be directed to leave the locality and may be excluded from the area for up to 24 hours.

“I can think of a number of areas of Warminster where we might find it useful to invoke these powers with a view to tackling antisocial behaviour and some not so petty crimes - which seem to be on the rise as the weather warms up,” said Steve Dancey.

“I think the vast majority of the public who are law-abiding want to see some action taken and will expect us to keep a close eye on these matters if we are elected in June.”