Have your say: Police Commissioner launches survey on anti-social behaviour
21.03.23 - Merseyside
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner wants to hear the public’s views on how people who commit low-level anti-social behaviour crimes should be dealt with outside of court.
Emily Spurrell has today launched a consultation on the Community Remedy, which provides a list of appropriate actions for dealing with perpetrators of crime, without court proceedings.
The consultation aims to give members of the public and victims of crime a greater say on what they think the most effective punishment is for a person who has committed anti-social behaviour.
The survey is part of the Commissioner’s work to improve the services on offer to victims of crime by asking for their views and experiences.
By listening to the voices of people across Merseyside, the Police Commissioner wants to improve the support delivered to victims in the future.
The results will be taken into consideration to inform the final list of actions available as Community Remedies which will be agreed by the Commissioner and the Chief Constable, Serena Kennedy.
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “Tackling anti-social behaviour is a priority for me and a key part of my Police and Crime Plan, making sure that our communities across Merseyside are safe and residents are free from harm. While anti-social behaviour can sometime, wrongly, be viewed low-level, it can have a lasting and devastating impact on someone’s life.
“This consultation is about empowering people to have a greater voice in the punishment of those who commit crimes against them.
“By taking part in this survey, people will have a direct say in what punishments are included in the list of community remedy options that the Chief Constable and I agree and are used in the future. This is all about involving victims in the criminal justice process and trying to find ways that offenders can repair some of the harm they have caused.”
The Community Remedy was introduced as part of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and is intended to give victims more say in the range of punishments offenders may face. Community remedies only take place in circumstances where victims are happy to be involved and in certain types of cases, such as those committed by first-time offenders who have shown genuine remorse or where an out-of-court disposal would be more appropriate than formal court proceedings.
All the actions in the Community Remedy list are designed to be appropriate and proportionate to the types of offences that are committed. Depending on the crime or incident that has occurred, a police officer will make the final decision if a community remedy is suitable. They will discuss this with the victim and the perpetrator to make sure they both agree with the approach before using the community remedy list with the victim to determine the best action to take.
If the offender fails to comply with the action determined, they can face court action for their behaviour.
Emily added: “In a recent survey, 56% of respondents on Merseyside said preventing crime and ASB should be the biggest priority for our police service. Community remedies are designed to reduce reoffending by encouraging offenders to face up to the consequences of their anti-social or criminal behaviour, to take responsibility for their actions and to appreciate the suffering they may have caused.
“That is why it is so important for people to get involved and share their views with me. Your views are really important in helping reduce anti-social behaviour now and for the future.”
Emily is asking people to share their views on these punishments through a quick online survey at www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/CommunityRemedy/
The survey is open until Friday 9th June 2023