Anti-social Behaviour and Noise: Epsom and Ewell
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to tackle (a) anti-social behaviour and (b) noise disturbances in Epsom and Ewell constituency.
Answered by Dame Diana Johnson
Tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.
The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides police, local authorities and other local agencies with a range of tools and powers they can use to respond to ASB, including noise nuisance. It is for local areas to decide how best to deploy these powers depending on the specific circumstances.
In November 2023, the Home Office published a report on police perceptions of powers within the 2014 Act; this can be found on GOV.UK here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/police-perceptions-of-powers-within-the-anti-social-behaviour-crime-and-policing-act-2014/police-perceptions-of-powers-within-the-anti-social-behaviour-crime-and-policing-act-2014.
Findings confirmed that police were generally content with the range of powers available and considered them effective in the short-term.
As part of this government’s Plan for Change, we are committed to there being a dedicated ASB lead officer in every force working with communities to develop a local ASB action plan. We will also put 13,000 neighbourhood police and community support officers into local communities, ensuring residents have a named officer they can turn to when things go wrong. We are determined to crack down on those causing havoc on our high streets and in communities by introducing tougher powers in the Crime and Policing Bill including the new Respect Order to tackle the most persistent ASB offenders.
The Home Office is also providing £66.3m funding in 2025/26 to police forces in England and Wales for hotspot policing to tackle ASB and knife crime. Surrey police will be allocated £1,000,000 of this funding.
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