2011 was busy year for anti-social behaviour news, from police reform to the Respect Charter. The fall-out from Fiona Pilkington’s case put ASB firmly on the agenda for the year, whilst the August riots made it a priority. Sadly, despite the blizzard of legislation, the year ended with news from another ASB-related death with the corona’s findings on David Askew. It seems we still have a lot of work ahead, both to protect victims and tackle anti-social behaviour.
January: 
- New complaint handling procedures trialled for ASB in eight police forces.
- CSP publishes new paper, looking at ASB and learning disabilities.
February:
- Anti-social Behaviour Consultation launched. The Government wants to reform ASB tools and powers, making it less bureaucratic and costly to deal with ASB.
- Home Secretary announces 18 million pounds of funding to tackle knife, gun and crime, following Brooke Kinsella’s investigation into knife crime.
Tackling knife crime together – a review of local anti-knife crime projects (executive summary) (PDF file – 127kb)
March:
- Police reform announced in England and Wales, with 28,000 job losses predicted.
- Consultation opens on the revised Respect standard
April:
- Community Budgets rolled out across 16 test areas, covering 31 different councils.
May
- Oxford University publishes research, examining the “community justice” model.
June
- Tougher checks on known sex offenders are proposed
- Respect: the ASB Charter for Social Housing launched by CIH.
July
- 30 million pounds of funding is allocated to charities helping victims of crime.
August
- The Scottish Government opens consultation on its Social Housing Charter.
- Shapps proposes a new mandatory power for possession to help housing associations evict “neighbours from hell”
- The Department for Justice confirms tougher community sentences, with a 16-hour day curfew limit.
- Rioting breaks out across English cities, leaving 5 dead, 16 injured and over 3,000 people arrested. Widespread looting and arson lead to an estimated £200 million of property damage. Parliment is recalled to deal with the disturbances.
Hackney riots © BBC
- The Respect Charter celebrates its 100th signatory.
- Riot Payback scheme suggested.
- Surrey police introduce an ASB smartphone app.
- Social Impact Bonds trialled
September
- Fiona Pilkington police officers cleared of misconduct
- Lord Henley replaces Baroness Browning as the minister for ASB
- Welsh Government announces funding for an extra 500 community support officers
- Launch of React 4
October
- Neural brain study shows that the threat of punishment deters bad behaviour
- A fifth of people polled would back a “trick or treat ban” to prevent criminal damage during Halloween
November
- Social Landlords Crime & Nuisance Group Award winners announced.
- Public poll lists ASB as a top priority for the 2013 elected Police Commissioners
- The Scottish Government considers ways to reform its criminal law
- Local reoffending information published online
- Forced marriage law introduced into Scotland
December
- David Askew’s death is ruled as unlawful killing by the coroner. He was subject to anti-social behaviour ten minutes before his collapse, by a gang of youths.
- The Welsh Assembly releases new legislation notes for Welsh landlords
What were your key moments from 2011? What do you think will be carried forward into 2012?
With thanks and acknowledgements to the SLCNG and HouseMark.
By Natalie Phillips
