Labour to focus on antisocial issues
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Your support makes all the difference.The Labour Party has urged its candidates at the May local elections to put the Government's plans to combat antisocial behaviour at the heart of their campaign.
A circular to Labour members, obtained by The Independent, reflects growing concern in the party leadership that Labour could suffer a backlash because of "local problems" such as low-level crime, dirty streets and noisy neighbours. The document says: "Local issues are becoming increasingly important in deciding the outcome of elections.
"As a party we are much more likely to engage people by talking about and campaigning on issues such as: removing abandoned cars; cleaning up local streets from litter, rubbish and dog mess; helping people feel safe and cracking down on noisy neighbours."
The circular urges its candidates to campaign on the pledges to be included in a White Paper on antisocial behaviour, to be published tomorrow by David Blunkett, the Home Secretary. These will include an extension of fixed- penalty fines of £40 or £80 for bad behaviour and truancy, and controversial measures to make begging illegal.
The report, "Making Britain a Better Place to Live," says: "Anti-social behaviour can blight all communities and add to the fear of crime. Our crackdown on anti-social behaviour is at the heart of our programme of fighting crime."
It argues that the quality of life of the poorest and most disadvantaged people suffer most from problems such as "nuisance neighbours, youth gangs, drug users, dealers, noise, dysfunctional families, littering, vandalism, graffiti, aggressiveness and truancy."
Labour admits it still has "much more to do" despite an overall fall in crime since it came to power in 1997. "Despite the Government's street crime initiative bringing street crime down by 16 per cent in the 10 worst areas, street crime remains too high," the circular says. "While record police numbers and cuts to police red tape have helped get more police on the street, many changes have yet to filter through."
The document claims the chance of being a victim is at its lowest for 20 years.
More than 650 antisocial behaviour orders have been issued and the scheme is described as a "success".
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