New powers for Flintshire County Council to tackle anti-social behaviour come into force

New legislative powers affecting Flintshire County Council in relation to anti-social behaviour have been discussed at this weeks Cabinet.

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 has recently come into force simplifying the approach and enabling effective local action to control and reduce it.

The legislation introduces new powers for councils to tackle anti-social behaviour including a ‘New Absolute Ground for Possession’ to speed up the eviction of a tenant where they, a member of their household or visitor has been convicted of a serious offence, like drug dealing at the property.

Two other new additions are Community Protection Notices (CPN) and Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO). The Community Protection Notice targets those responsible for ongoing problems or nuisances which affect the community’s quality of life.

Public Spaces Protection Orders impose conditions on the use of an area such as street drinking, roaming dogs in parks or groups of people causing noise issues in open spaces when issues are detrimental to the local community.

Public Protection officers who undertake community work including neighbourhood housing officers, neighbourhood wardens, anti-social behaviour coordinators and pollution control officers will be authorised to carry out the enforcement.

The Council will continue to work in partnership with North Wales Police, Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board and other social housing providers to reduce anti-social behaviour and a new review system will also be set up for victims if they feel their complaints are not being properly addressed.

Councillor Kevin Jones, Cabinet Member for Waste Strategy, Public Protection and Leisure said:

“The Council is committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and these new laws should be fairer to victims and make it easier and quicker for officers to remove tenants who cause problems. They will also address any issues that may occur in open spaces in the County giving more powers to enforce nuisance behaviour.”