Antisocial behaviour 'not getting worse in Northumberland', says chief

Figures in a report to a meeting of the communities and place committee on March 4 showed ‘only minor year-to-year variation’ in the number of antisocial behaviour (ASB) complaints received by the local authority over the past four years.

There were 818 in 2016/17, 916 in 2017/18, 811 in 2018/19, and 719 in 2019/20 up to the end of December, with the current year’s figure not expected to rise by another quarter due to factors such as lighter nights.

The council’s head of public protection, Phil Soderquest, told the meeting that public perception was a major factor. “The public might say that ASB is getting worse, but our figures and the police’s figures don’t show that.”

“It’s also influenced by the tolerance of different people,” he added, pointing out that one person might consider youths kicking a football at a wall as ASB, while another would simply say it was children playing.

“There’s a self-fulfilling prophecy as well, with people saying, ‘it’s not worth reporting it, because nothing ever happens’. If we get one report, it may not affect how we decide our resources, but if there are multiple reports then it can make a difference.”

Coun John Riddle, the relevant cabinet member, noted that councillors were perhaps disappointed at the loss of the former LMAPs (Local Multi-Agency Problem Solving) system, but explained that this was previously funded to the tune of around £500,000, which now goes to the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Complaints received by the council are assessed and either dealt with by community support officers or passed onto the VOLs (Victim Offender Location meetings) if multi-agency involvement is needed. The ASBRAC (ASB Risk Assessment Conference) is a higher-level multi-agency group which meets, as needed, to consider more serious cases.

“This is a model which is delivering what we need to do with a lot less resource,” Coun Riddle said, although Mr Soderquest accepted that while it was good at being responsive, it needed to become more proactive.

Since late 2018, the single point of contact (SPOC) system has meant that each county councillor has a designated community support officer, with who they can raise ASB issues.

Coun Christine Dunbar, who represents Cramlington Eastfield, said: “I have got nothing but compliments for the service and the outcomes they have produced in one of my estates.”

However, Coun John Beynon, ward member for Morpeth Stobhill, said: “I haven’t had as positive an experience with a couple of issues which are starting to be dealt with now, but it’s taken a long time.”

It was also clear that some members were still not aware about the SPOC arrangements, despite the information being sent out again following the September round of local area councils where this issue was also discussed. All councillors will be emailed with the relevant details once more.