Agenda item

(Mr. P. Murray, Anti Social Behaviour Co-odinator, attended in connection with this item).

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.    Relevant Background Information

         The purpose of this report is to:

·        Provide an overview of antisocial behaviour (ASB) incidents across parks and leisure facilities and electoral area; and

·        Update committee on the activities, interventions and future developments of the ASB programme.

·        Members are reminded that  the objectives of the ASB 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

2.      Key Issues

         ASB trends in Parks throughout Electoral areas

         The comparative data outlined in Figure 1 below, illustrates a decreasing trend in the total number of ASB incident reports in parks in the city between April and December 2013 in comparison with April to December 2014. There is however an increase in parks within the four electoral areas of Court, Lower Falls, Pottinger and Upper Falls.

         Figure 1

         The data above is recorded by frontline officers.  Spikes in the data are indicative of an increase in ASB. Members should note that in several of the areas that have seen an increase in ASB incidents, parks (Woodvale, Dunville & Orangefield) were closed for redevelopment in 2013, and this can partially explain the increase. Where there are hotspots, there is an increased focus for frontline staff who will record as much detail on ASB incidents as possible. This provides information on what ASB took place, when it happened and where exactly it happened, which allows the department to plan future activities to reduce ASB on Council properties. 

         Successful interventions to reduce ASB

·        Engagement activities are being developed to consult with young people in Court, Oldpark, Pottinger and Upper Falls. This work is informing how we can provide services for young people in partnership with local youth providers and reduce ASB specifically in Parks.

·        Community Outreach Managers have been collaborating with local youth providers and supporting community and schools groups through innovative engagement and activity programmes. These programmes bring communities into facilities in parks, allotments and community gardens to create a greater sense of ownership.

·        Examples of this practice can be found in the outdoor classroom or youth area (YAA) in Falls Park which has proved to be extremely popular with over 200 school children and young people participating in a diverse programme of outdoor learning activities designed to support the curriculum. This area has been animated with lots of positive activity and has led to a decrease of ASB in the immediate area around the YAA. It is hoped a similar effect will be experienced throughout the park following the proposed developments in the Falls Park Master Plan.

·        There has been significant youth engagement connected to the Waterworks Halloween lantern event and in Alexandra Park supporting the ongoing discussions about the future of the interface barrier. This ongoing annual community participation supports greater ownership of the park areas and contributes to a decrease in ASB.

·        Another example of community engagement can be found in the development of regeneration of Knocknagoney. This location was perceived as being neglected and suffering badly from ASB. The Outreach Manager has worked with the local community supporting the construction of a community garden, MUGA and lighting scheme. This park has a diverse programme of activity and is now perceived as a vibrant space and asset to the local community.

·        The use of community engagement in City Cemetery has underpinned the development of an art project. The imminent placement of artwork will be driven by community engagement and it is hoped will raise community confidence in tackling long standing issues of ASB.

·        Park Wardens continue to ensure parks are clean as they issue fixed penalties in relation to litter and dog fouling offences in parks and on their journeys between parks as part of an ongoing enforcement programme. 35 fixed penalty notices have been issued since April 2014.

·        Park Wardens and Community Safety Safer Neighbourhood Officers are engaged in joint patrols to identify where ASB is taking place in Parks after closing time. This work is developing as part of the collaborative Parks and Community Safety action plans based at Woodvale Park, Falls/City Cemetery, Musgrave Park and Orangefield Playing Fields (See below).

·        Park Managers, Wardens and Community Safety Officers are working in close partnership with PSNI. This has been evident recently in Orangefield and Cavehill following reports of large groups of youths gathering. The outcomes of this work will be shared with the DPCSP.

·        As Members are aware there has recently been a significant investment in programmes that improve leisure facilities in parks. Improvements in soccer pitches, additional pavilions, multi use games areas (MUGAS), and playgrounds, as well as community gardens and allotments bring more users into parks and create more legitimate activity. These facilities are further enhanced by consideration of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design principles (CPTED). This process ensures that improved facilities are designed with robust materials to minimise vandalism and damage from ASB. 

         Current Citywide activity to tackle ASB

         The following citywide developments are currently being implemented:

·        Members will be aware of the HES committee paper ‘Tackling Antisocial Behaviour Internal review’ (January 2015). Four parks have been identified as locations requiring focused collaborative working. These are Falls Park/City Cemetery, Woodvale Park, Musgrave Park and Orangefield Park. Workshops have been initiated with frontline staff. The purpose of the workshops was to develop an inter-departmental operational framework for how Council tackles antisocial behaviour, for presentation to Committee in due course.

·        Collaborative Parks and Community Safety action plans are being developed to reduce ASB in the neighbourhoods around the four parks. This will be rolled out and regularly reviewed over the next year. The lessons learned will underpin the eventual expansion of this work throughout parks and neighbourhoods in North, South, East and West Belfast.

         Planned Interventions

         Planned interventions will focus on parks with more than 20 incidents in the last quarter. The specific types of ASB are analysed and appropriate, cost effective and realistic interventions are planned in response. The interventions span across all 4 objectives of the ASB programme.

         Interventions will often involve improving the security of boundaries and gates or create specific displacement and diversionary activities. Park Wardens will be directed to specific sites to patrol in high visibility joint operations across the City with Community Safety Safer Neighbourhood Officers. Joint operations may extend to working in partnership with PSNI (dependent upon availability), to enforce street drinking legislation.

3.      Resource Implications

         The development of the programme will be facilitated through the agreed ASB budget 2014-2015 which is approximately £250,000.

4.      Equality Implications

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

5.      Recommendations

         To note the contents of this report.”

            After discussion, the Committee noted the information which had been provided.