Declares that urgent steps need to be taken to stop anti-social behaviour, attacks and robberies by groups of young people on users and nearby residents of Rushey Fields Park in Leicester and further that it is the only green space in the area and this kind of behaviour is discouraging people who are concerned for their safety and welfare from using the park.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges Leicester City Council to put CCTV security measures in place and increase police patrols to discourage anti-social behaviour, robberies and attacks on park users and nearby residents.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Keith Vaz, Official Report, 25 November 2015; Vol. 602, c. 1458.]
[P001572]
Observations from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Karen Bradley):
The Government recognise that anti-social behaviour and associated criminality can have a significant impact on the quality of life in communities affected by it, and that left unchecked, it can make people’s lives a misery.
The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 introduced new and flexible powers to enable the police, local authorities and other partners to take effective action to stop such behaviour and to protect our communities. A number of areas are making good use of these powers to address anti-social behaviour within their communities.
It must, however, be for the local authority and the police, using their professional expertise, knowledge and judgement, to determine whether to make use of the new powers to tackle the problems being experienced in Rushey Fields Park, and whether other responses, including the use of police patrols may be appropriate.
The possible use of CCTV in the area will be one of a number of competing priorities and demands upon the budget of Leicester City Council. CCTV systems are one of the tools available to the local authority and its partners to fulfil its statutory responsibilities under section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to do all that it reasonably can to prevent crime and disorder in its area. It is, however, a matter for local partners to determine whether and how best to deploy and operate CCTV systems, taking into account the resources available and guidance in the surveillance camera code of practice.