Chesterfield anti-social behaviour strategy focuses on prevention rather than punishment

Addressing Chesterfield Borough Council’s Cabinet, Head of Community Safety and Regulatory Services Shaun Morley, said the council would work alongside partners including housing services, police and fire service to address the root causes of anti-social behaviour in both youths and adults.

Presenting the draft Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy, he said one of its key principles was early intervention and prevention.

The former chief superintendent for South Yorkshire Police said: “I think one of the issues we’ve had before is that sometimes we try to address the symptoms of anti-social behaviour rather than trying to understand what the underlying problems are and directly tackling those issues.”

The draft strategy outlines the use of diversion and education as a way of addressing the problem among young people.

Mr Morley said: “Over the last five years nationally we’ve seen a reduction in youth services and diversionary activity and that’s certainly having an impact in terms of youth offending.

“There is a real need for us to create effective diversionary activity for young people to give them a sense of purpose, a sense of value.”