ANTISOCIAL behaviour is the biggest problem in East Hampshire, it has been revealed in a new report on crime and disorder in the area. The report was undertaken for the East Hampshire Community Safety Partnership by a team of experts from Portsmouth University. The partnership consists of 14 organisations in the district including the council, police, the primary care trust, drug housing, drug addiction team and the probation service. The report was unveiled to members of East Hampshire District Council's central area community committee last week. Six separate surveys were carried out with different sections of the community and three highlighted major worries over the growing problems surrounding antisocial behaviour. And making its conclusions on data collected the experts reported: "Perhaps the biggest issue to raise for this audit is antisocial behaviour." "For businesses the main concerns were juvenile nuisance, antisocial behaviour and littering. For adults, the issues they wanted the police to tackle the most were anti-social behaviour and the problems they thought were most likely to affect them was rubbish or litter lying around, teenagers hanging around and young people being drunk and rowdy. "Antisocial behaviour is the main priority East Hampshire wants tackled. New structures are beginning to tackle the extremes of this. These clearly need to be invested in further, along with other measures to address this problem." The report was drawn up after a series of interviews across the district, a self- assessment workshop organised by Crime Concern and six separate surveys using questionnaires to specific groups. The surveys focused on business, adults, young people, community safety, drugs and beat officers. The survey of businesses was carried out by a mail shot to 10 per cent of small businesses across the district. More than 400 questionnaires were sent out and 97 replies received. More than 700 questionnaires were issued to youth organisations of which 85 were returned. In addition to these, a community safety questionnaire was placed in EHDC's Partners magazine , and a survey of adults was conducted with nearly 800 questionnaires going out to organisations throughout the district. Thirty two police beat officers across the district were sent a questionnaire asking about their specific beat issues. One hundred and seventy two drugs questionnaires were also distributed to key local agencies, of which only eight were returned. In their findings, the experts also reported: "There was deep dissatisfaction with the lack of police presence in East Hampshire. Nearly two thirds were dissatisfied or deeply dissatisfied with uniformed police patrol." By far the worst levels of dissatisfaction were in the south of the district where not one person questioned said they were very satisfied with the police presence, 1.4 per cent said there were satisfied and more than three quarters were dissatisfied or deeply dissatisfied. The audit reported: "The surveys of both adults and young people showed that rowdiness and drunkenness was seen as a major problem. It also highlighted a growing drug problem in both the Alton and Petersfield areas. "It is also of concern that 30 per cent of young people claimed to have been offered drugs, of which 11 per cent had taken them at least once. In the Petersfield area 50 per cent of young people had been offered them, but only 14.7 per cent had taken them." Summarising the results, the report continued: "Perhaps of more concern, is the growing heroin problem in the Alton area where 25 per cent had taken drugs more than once. In addition there is a lack of provision for drug users in East Hampshire, particularly young people." It stressed that East Hampshire remained an area where there were low rates of crime compared to neighbouring districts and nationally. "However, over the last three years there has been a small increase in burglary (up 10.9 per cent) theft of and from vehicles (up 22.6 per cent) and criminal damage to motor vehicles (up 8.6 per cent.) Violent crime had risen by 40.2 per cent including a 79.9 per cent increase in Alton and 86.6 per cent in Petersfield. But experts stressed: "There have been changes in the recording practices of Hampshire Police which have meant many more offences are now considered violent." The report continued: "The rise may also be accounted for by greater violence in the 'nighttime economy' which has been an emerging issue throughout the country and is linked with improving economic conditions with increasing numbers of people drinking alcohol." The last Crime Audit Report, three years ago, highlighted the need to tackle fear of crime. In their latest findings, the team reported a comparable or improving situation. "For businesses, 85 per cent felt safe or very safe during the day and only 15 per cent unsafe or very unsafe at night. On all questions in the adults survey relating to safety during daylight or within the home respondents reported at least 70 per cent safe and less than 15 per cent unsafe. But nearly 40 per cent of adults said they were concerned about their safety when walking alone after dark. But it was a different story when young people were surveyed on their feelings of security. More than 30 per cent were either very worried or slightly worried about violence in their home, which rose to 45 per cent in school or college and more than 60 per cent in the street. "Young people also reported relatively high victimisation rates. Nearly a third had had property damaged in the last year and just over a quarter had had property stolen. "More concerning," it was reported, "was that just over half reported having been kicked, hit, punched, slapped or thumped and 40 per cent had been insulted, bullied or threatened." And the audit team warned: "Given other findings that 15 per cent of young people had carried a weapon and 7.6 per cent had hurt someone with a weapon, this further highlights the need for action." And commenting on the major findings of the report the experts suggested a series of strategies to tackle the biggest problems. They included more investment in the antisocial behaviour structures, expansion of youth service provision, greater uniformed present in the form of police, wardens and community support officers, more street lighting and CCTV. "There also needs to be more drugs education and treatment services and an expansion of Pub Watch. Speaking at the community committee last week, Hilary Ayer told members she was pleased to hear that dedicated antisocial behaviour police officers had recently been appointed and an antisocial behaviour co- ordinator had also been recruited by the East Hampshire Community Safety Partnership. "To get an ASB order, a lot of evidence is needed to convince the magistrates that a person really is a pain and we need people who can devote time to gathering this,' she told the meeting. "An ASB officer working in conjunction with dedicated police officers is a good idea." Committee chairman Judy Onslow said many people in East Hampshire were now "very frightened" about travelling on the last train home from London. Sgt Rhona Anderson said problems had been identified particularly with young people travelling by train from Liphook to Liss. She said the matter was being addressed, but she stressed that issues on railway property had to be handed over to the British Transport Police. Council leader Andrew Pattie said he was concerned about the issues which were worrying school pupils. "Are police talking to local headteachers to encourage open relationships so that schools are prepared to haul youngsters before courts?" he asked. "Before it would have been dealt with on the premises." Sgt Anderson told him police were working hard with schools to combat bullying and drug problems.
