SOUTH Tyneside is to receive £54,000 to help tackle yobs who make people's lives a misery.
The cash is part of a £500,000 package to North East councils to help them combat anti-social behaviour in the community.
The cash will be used to help train front-line staff and community champions to use new powers to solve problems, Communitie
s Secretary John Denham and Housing Minister John Healey announced yesterday.
Latest figures from the British Crime Survey show there has been a fall in people's perception of anti-social behaviour as a local problem over the last six years.
But statistics are cold comfort to victims – and Ministers say they are determined to drive down anti-social behaviour. The plan, being funded by a £10m package, targets 130 local councils.
Among the measures it will support are:
- Letting local residents know their rights and how to report anti-social behaviour.
- Extra training for frontline staff such as ASB co-ordinators, police and neighbourhood wardens;
- Training to help residents and community champions challenge police and councils and shape the approach to tackling anti-social behaviour;
- Funding for local work to tackle anti-social behaviour, such as environmental clean up campaigns, supporting community led projects to engage young people and creating more attractive public spaces.
Mr Denham said: "We want to spur more, faster action and more effective results.
"We want people to know they are not alone – government, their council and police are on their side, whether it's tackling nightmare neighbours, aggressive gangs or mindless vandals.
"It might be a minority causing harm and misery for the majority but we are clear – this won't be tolerated."
Coun Joanne Bell, South Tyneside Council's lead member for innovation and safer and stronger communities, said: "We welcome any additional funding to help our drive to tackle anti-social behaviour because it is one of our top priorities.
"The money can be used to support a variety of measures, and the safer and stronger communities group will be meeting to discuss how it can be spent in a way that produces maximum benefits for people of the borough."
