Agenda item

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

            “1.     Key Issues

The antisocial behaviour programme contributes to the achievement of the departmental vision of providing quality parks, open spaces and leisure environments that people value and use. In particular, it enables the delivery of the departmental objective regarding the provision of programmes and services to make people feel safer.

In line with the departmental plan, the objectives of the antisocial behaviour programme are to:

·         enhance the environment around Parks and Leisure facilities;

·         develop education initiatives involving creative or supportive interventions to model acceptable behaviour around Parks and Leisure facilities;

·         define enforcement as a deterrent against infraction of bye-laws or legislation; and

·         develop sustainable interagency and inter-departmental networks and leading a partnership approach to reducing antisocial behaviour.

The Antisocial Behaviour Coordinator prioritises action and expenditure by collating evidence gathered through antisocial behaviour incident reports. This information is used to inform a coordinated partnership response, drawing on council resources, the support of local community resources, PSNI and the Policing and Community Safety Partnership.

Trends in the available ASB incident data

The evidence available for December 2012 to April 2013 indicates an increase in antisocial behaviour, especially in park areas in, Oldpark, Pottinger and Balmoral.

There is a downward trend of ASB in parks within Court, Castle and Laganbank electoral areas.

Members will recall that the new CRM database was established to record ASB data in early 2011. Unfortunately there is no comparative data available for Upper Falls during December 2011 to April 2012. It would be difficult to estimate any trend in this area until the next quarterly report.

         Profiles of ASB in park and leisure facilities

The available data provides an accurate ASB profile for each location. The locations with nine or more incident reports suffer the following ASB issues:

Alexandra Park: Setting fires, Rowdy behaviour and Drinking

Waterworks: Graffiti, Rowdy behaviour, Animal problems and Drinking

Falls Park: Damage to Property, Rowdy behaviour and Animal problems

Ormeau Park: Damage to Property and Vehicle nuisance

Glencairn Park: Fly tipping, Vehicle nuisance and Damage to the grounds

Orangefield: Damage to Property, Drinking and Rowdy behaviour

Botanic Gardens: Drinking and Rowdy behaviour

Cave Hill: Damage to Property, Animal problems and Vehicle nuisance

Response to the trends in evidence

The evidence available indicates that ASB has increased in Oldpark, Pottinger and Balmoral.

In Oldpark, especially in Alexandra and Waterworks parks, there is significant evidence to suggest that Alexandra and Waterworks parks require significant attention to address the reported ASB. In the near future, the use of mobile CCTV will be programmed in conjunction with joint BCC/ PSNI operations. Both resources can patrol these parks during the lighter evenings to deter fire setting, drinkers and rowdy behaviour. In the longer term, a more sustainable intervention will be required and the ASB coordinator will liaise with elected members, Park Managers and PSNI in order to identify appropriate interventions which will respond to the particular profile of ASB in the area.

In Pottinger, ASB increased in Orangefield and Ormeau Parks. The evidence available for Ormeau indicates a need for improved access control to deter inappropriate vehicle use and a need for improved visibility to foster feelings of safety. Both Ormeau and Orangefield will benefit from the use of mobile CCTV and increased BCC and PSNI joint patrols in the summer months. 

In Balmoral, ASB has increased in Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park and Musgrave Park (which includes Grovelands). The mobile CCTV resource will be deployed in both park areas during the summer period and in Musgrave the implementation of the Young Adult Association area will continue in partnership and in consultation with PSNI.

Falls Park and Botanic will benefit from further development of the Young Adult Association areas. The park areas in Glencairn and Cave hill will benefit from actions to deter Scrambler and Quad use. The ‘anti Scrambler’ actions will extend beyond these sites across the City during the year and will be implemented through reasonable, appropriate and cost effective actions.   

Planned Interventions

This ASB update report is focused on the period of December 2012 to April 2013. As the new financial year started in April 2013, at this point, the majority of the work of the ASB programme has focused on planning for the year ahead. The actions which were planned but did not complete within the 2012/2013 financial year, have been transferred to 2013/2014. These include the establishment of the Young Adult Association areas, the City Cemetery decorative arts project and the construction of the Ballysillan ballcatch fence. These projects are progressed according to council policy regarding planning and procurement processes and therefore have yet to be fully implemented.

Park Warden developments

Park Wardens are the principal resource used to tackle and respond to incidents of ASB. They are engaged in a ‘training and coaching programme’ to support their understanding and implementation of the regulatory framework and processes relating to law enforcement within local government in Northern Ireland.

The deployment of the Park Wardens is informed by the ASB data and evidence captured using the CRM database. Our Park Wardens have developed valuable links with residents across Belfast and continue to liaise with the community leaders to address the ASB that they report.

In order to capture public reports of ASB on the CRM database and further improve the Park Warden service, a specific point of contact has been created for the residents of Belfast and will be called ‘the Parks Antisocial Behaviour Report Line’.

Details of the Parks Antisocial Behaviour Report Line (02890 500 515) will be published and promoted through City Matters to further encourage residents of Belfast to share their experiences and provide valuable information about ASB in our parks.

            2.      Resource Implications

The development of the programme will be facilitated through the agreed antisocial behaviour budget 2013-14 which is approximately £250,000.

            3.      Equality Implications

Much of the antisocial behaviour programme work spans activities related to reducing interface tensions and bringing youth together to take part in positive programmes and activities.  All of the programme work is in line with the council’s equality and good relations policies and procedures.

            4.      Recommendation

                     Members are asked to note the contents of this update report”

            The Director outlined the principle aspects of the report and indicated that, whilst the figures presented had represented a slight increase over the period in question, the year-on-year trend regarding antisocial behaviour within Council parks had been downward.

            A number of Members requested clarification in respect of the figures presented for the Marrowbone Park and expressed concern that the statistics had not reflected accurately the extent of antisocial activity which had occurred in the vicinity.  It was suggested that the method of capturing the number of incidents within the park might be re-assessed and that additional resources could be made available to address the matter.

            After discussion, during which the Director undertook to investigate the issues raised, the Committee noted the information which had been provided.