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Respect Drive Targets Troublesome Families

10 January 2006

Police and local authorities will have tough new powers to deal with families who blight communities with unacceptable behaviour, according to the Government's Respect Action Plan published today.

The plan proposes a national network of projects providing help and support for families, but those who don't improve or take responsibility for their children’s behaviour, could be subject to new powers including:

• a new house closure order temporarily sealing properties that are the constant focus of anti-social behaviour
• schools able to apply for parenting orders where a child’s behaviour requires it and local authorities being able to designate housing or community safety officers to do the same

The Government also plans to consult on sanctions for households evicted for anti-social behaviour who refuse help including financial penalties or housing benefit measures.

The Action Plan includes new funding of up to £28 million to set up the network of intensive family support schemes and provide parenting help. Schemes provide round the clock supervision for the most difficult families whose anti-social behaviour is blighting communities. 

The Government will also provide help and support for people struggling with the challenge of parenting. The plan identifies poor parenting as one of the root causes of antisocial behaviour and is central to tackling the causes of disrespect in society.

Also included in the Plan are proposals to establish a National Parenting Academy to train staff to help families where kids are at risk of getting involved in anti-social behaviour.

The plan sets out a wide ranging programme to tackle anti-social behaviour and build a culture of respect.  Other measures include:

• An additional £52 million for parenting classes and increased support to tackle poor parenting
• 'Face the People' community meetings to allow residents to hold officials responsible for community safety issues to account and raise issues of concern
• A ‘Respect Standard’ for housing management to ensure that all social landlords take a proactive approach to tackling bad behaviour and promoting good behaviour
• Consideration of a new offence of obstructing the progress of ambulance workers, when they respond to emergencies. This would complement existing offences that deal with the obstruction of police and fire officers

The plan is central to the Government's drive to broaden and widen the clampdown on anti-social behaviour to tackle causes in the home, classroom and local community and address a wider culture of disrespect in society.  The measures focus attention on both the causes of anti-social behaviour as well as dealing with problems when they occur.

The Government will be promoting a national debate in 2006 about the challenge of nurturing a modern culture of respect. A recent MORI poll commissioned by the Home Office showed that concern about disrespectful behaviour is widespread.  There is a broad consensus about what constitutes disrespectful behaviour and recognition that for a successful economy this is a serious quality of life issue that can make people’s lives a misery.
 
Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, said:

"Most people know what respect is. They know how to behave well by  being considerate to others.  But a minority do not play by these  common rules and undermine the efforts of the respectful majority.  Where respect breaks down anti-social behaviour takes hold.  The  public is saying enough is enough. Building on our progress against  anti-social behaviour, we are now setting out a tough drive to tackle the  root causes of disrespect.

"The package of measures announced today is designed to stop the  problems before they start.  At the centre are initiatives to address  problem parents and promote parenting skills as this is the key to  nipping anti-social behaviour in the bud. Targeted truancy crackdowns  and stopping unofficial exclusion will prevent children being out on the  streets when they should be in the classroom. Allowing schools to  apply for parenting orders will stop disruptive behaviour escalating.

"The Respect agenda is about nurturing and where needed, enforcing  a modern culture of  respect which the majority of people want."

Implementation of the measures included in the plan will be co-ordinated by the Respect Taskforce, the cross governmental unit, based in the Home Office, to drive forward the Government's Respect agenda.

Notes to editors:

1. The Respect Action Plan can be accessed via the internet at www.respect.gov.uk (new window)
2. The implementation of the Respect Action Plan will be led by the Respect Taskforce based in the Home Office and overseen by a cross departmental steering chaired by Hazel Blears. It will include ministerial and official representation from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Department for Education and Skills, Department for Culture Media and Sport, Department of Health, Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs as well as external expert advisers.
3. The Respect Task Force is headed by Louise Casey, as Government Co-ordinator for Respect. The Task Force was formally established on 2 September 2005. 
4. The Respect programme of work will be underpinned by £80 million over two years of new funding, reflecting the cross-Government commitment to the agenda. This includes £52 million to start a national programme of change in the way public services respond to parents and up to £28 million to get intensive family support projects off the ground and provide parenting support. The Action Plan also sets out the commitment right across Government to prioritise and deliver the Respect agenda through existing funding streams.  

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