Anti social behaviour in Nottingham has fallen dramatically in the last 18 months, according to new statistics.

The news came as Nottingham launched the next phase of its widely-acclaimed Respect for Nottingham initiative.

The Anti Social Behaviour Survey commissioned by the Nottingham Crime and Drugs Partnership shows that between September 2006 and March 2008 that there were 9% fewer reports of residents being affected by anti social behaviour, a reduction from 44% to 35%.

It also reveals that fear of crime across the city has fallen by 7% and in local neighbourhoods by 6%, with most neighbourhoods reporting a reduction in anti social behaviour. Additionally, a greater proportion of residents than ever believe Nottingham has become a better place to live. General satisfaction with Nottingham and its neighbourhoods has risen by 7% since September 2006.

There are some findings which show that there is still much to do. Although 6% more people feel safe in their own neighbourhood and fewer people perceive that anti social behaviour is a problem, there has been a 5% increase in the number of people feeling less safe in the City centre and 85% of people still perceive anti social behaviour to be an issue.

The new Respect for Nottingham programme for 2008 - 2011 is designed to tackle the issues that residents say are most important to them. In particular, over the next three years, the focus will be on tackling begging, street prostitution, drug dealing and misuse, environmental crime, anti social behaviour and alcohol-related issues.

Leader of Nottingham City Council, Councillor Jon Collins, said: “What this survey shows is that, overall, our approach to dealing with anti social behaviour, through the Respect for Nottingham initiative, is having real positive effects - reducing actual incidence of anti social behaviour and helping to increase people’s feelings of safety.

“We know that anti social behaviour - from fly-tipping, littering and graffiti to nuisance vehicles and nuisance neighbours - can have a huge direct impact on people’s lives and an indirect effect on levels of crime, if left unchecked. That’s why I’m so pleased that we’ve seen that our focus on it, through Neighbourhood Policing, has had such a good effect. This survey also shows us areas where we need to redouble our efforts and I believe that the new Respect for Nottingham strategy does exactly that.”

Chief Executive of the Crime and Drugs Partnership Alan Given said: “We are very pleased with these results and it shows that we are working on the areas that the people of Nottingham say are most important. Our residents have an expectation that we will concentrate on their concerns and we are committed to the challenge of meeting those expectations. ”

Chief ASB Officer Richard Antcliff of Nottingham City Council’s Community Protection Directorate added: “We are dedicated to ensuring that our communities feel safe and reassured that we are listening to them. We are committed to exploring every civil remedy available to tackle antisocial behaviour. Community Protection will continue to work with its partners to help deliver the Respect for Nottingham agenda.”

Notes:

The 2008 Anti Social Behaviour survey was carried out among 3,200 people across Nottingham. Copies are available on request.

Examples of ASB include, but are not limited to: Nuisance neighbours; Rowdy nuisance behaviour; Vandalism, graffiti and fly-posting; Begging and anti-social drinking; People dealing and buying drugs on the street. For further information visit www.homeoffice.gov.uk/anti-social-behaviour/