Antisocial Behaviour

Perran Moon Excerpts

Tuesday 10th November 2026 Westminster Hall

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Butler. A big thank you to the hon. Member for Birmingham Perry Barr (Ayoub Khan) for coming forward with this debate.

The police record more than 1 million incidents of antisocial behaviour every year across the United Kingdom. Antisocial behaviour plagues many of our communities. The consequences are not just financial, although costly damage is caused to both public and private property. This behaviour is also causing people to feel intimidated and unable to enjoy their own neighbourhoods.

To be fair to the Minister and the Labour Government, they are doing some good things. They have renewed their commitment to tackling antisocial behaviour by introducing tougher restrictions and dedicated operations to target town centres, for example.

[Perran Moon (Camborne and Redruth) (Ind)]

People in my constituency are concerned about town-centre antisocial behaviour and rightly expect action. To give credit where it is due, Devon and Cornwall police saw a 10% reduction in antisocial behaviour in the year to May, helped by targeted Home Office-funded hotspot patrols. Does the hon. Member agree that although there is more to do, that represents welcome progress?

[Jim Shannon]

I certainly do. Street drinking and e-scooter misuse are also being addressed. The newly introduced respect orders provide further powers for both police and local councils to take action against persistent offenders. I encourage and welcome that.

Enforcement is essential, but we must also work to understand what causes antisocial behaviour, because that is the real issue. For adults involved in antisocial behaviour, mental health problems and drug misuse are cited as the key drivers. In relation to children and young people, who tend to be the main source of antisocial behaviour, it has been found that unstable home environments, lack of education and peer pressure are significant contributors. Uniquely, in Northern Ireland we must recognise that there remains a continuing threat posed by paramilitary groups, which can exploit vulnerable young people and accelerate antisocial behaviours. We must do more to support parents in their responsibilities, ensuring that they know where their children are, particularly during the evenings, and are able to encourage their children to take responsibility for their actions.

I commend the churches in Strangford for what they do. They have youth groups and clubs and encourage young people to come in. They try to keep them off the streets if at all possible. May I also make a plea on behalf of street pastors? They are very active right through my constituency. They do great work to reach out and help young people, and no one can ignore their impact.

Newtownards in my constituency experienced antisocial behaviour over the summer. These incidents have a lasting impact on the wider community. Residents report feeling less confident about going out, fearing intimidation or harassment. Parents with young children are increasingly reluctant to use local parks, while others avoid walking in the evening because they do not feel safe.

The public should not have to live in fear because of the behaviour of a minority. When it comes to increasing enforcement powers, given the success of some of the powers in England in Wales, I ask the Minister—who is always responsive, and I thank her for that—to engage with the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Minister for Policing and Justice and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. We can defeat antisocial behaviour if we do it together.