On Monday 8 January, Radio 5 Live’s daytime programmes including 5 Live Breakfast, Nicky Campbell, Naga Munchetty and 5 Live Drive will discuss the findings from an exclusive online survey of 2,000 UK adults which focuses on anti-social behaviour and public confidence in the police to tackle it.

Survey Findings

The survey suggests three in ten people (30%) who have experienced or witnessed anti-social behaviour (ASB) in their local neighbourhood say it’s made them feel unsafe walking alone in their area.

Just over half of UK adults (52%) say they are not confident in the ability of the police to tackle ASB in their local area.

Women who have experienced or witnessed anti-social behaviour are more likely than men to say it has made them feel unsafe walking alone (37% vs. 22%), with younger adults, aged 18-34, also significantly more likely to feel this way (39%).

82% of UK adults say they are experiencing or witnessing at least some anti-social behaviour in their local area, with one in six (15%) saying it’s something they see often.

Ahead of the Victims and Prisoners Bill returning to the Lords later this month, 5 Live Breakfast will be revealing the results of their exclusive online survey conducted by Savanta for Radio 5 Live and will hear from the national policing lead for tackling anti-social behaviour. Then from 9am, Nicky Campbell will be asking listeners about their own experiences of ASB, and from 11am, the Victim’s Commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Newlove, will be taking part in a special guest edit on Naga Munchetty’s programme.

The theme will run into the evening with case studies, guests and interviews on 5 Live Drive and Gordon Smart’s late show.

Responding to Radio 5 Live’s survey findings, the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Newlove said the government must act to give victims of persistent anti-social behaviour the “help and support they deserve”. “I know only too well victims of persistent anti-social behaviour (ASB) can suffer high levels of harm. The cumulative impact of the behaviour can devastate victims’ lives, affecting their sleep, work, relationships, health, and feelings of safety in their own home.

“Yet all too often, when they reach out for help and support, it is not forthcoming. This is because police and other agencies, such as housing authorities, treat ASB incidences in isolation and fail to recognise the level of distress and harm caused.

“Victims tell me police prefer to treat ASB as a misdemeanour even though the criminal threshold has been met. This means they are ineligible for victim support services to help them cope and recover. Either they have to suffer in silence or move home.

“No victim of persistent ASB should be left to suffer alone and the government must act to make sure they are given the help and support they deserve.”

Heidi Dawson, Controller of BBC Radio 5 Live says: “Radio 5 Live is the voice of the UK and it’s our job to be at the heart of important national conversations such as this one. We will be working closely with key professionals and organisations to discuss policing in the UK as well as talking with our listeners about how they are impacted.”

Policing Minister, Chris Philp, said: “Since 2010 our communities are safer, with neighbourhood crimes down 50% and serious violence down 52%. But everyone has the right to feel safe and live without fear in their communities, which is why tackling anti-social behaviour has always been one of the Prime Minister’s priorities.

“Last year we launched our Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan backed by £160 million of funding, which includes providing a range of police forces with more funds to increase patrols in hotspot areas of anti-social behaviour.

“Some police forces have reported a 36% decrease in anti-social behaviour since the scheme was launched – and we’ll be rolling this out across the country later this year.”

Katie Kempen, Chief Executive at the charity Victim Support says: “The Victims and Prisoners Bill, currently passing through Parliament, is a golden opportunity to improve the support available to victims. The government must update the Bill to include victims of non-criminal antisocial behaviour, to ensure they have rights, and recognise the very real effect on people’s lives in this country.”

On the ASB action plan: “While it is positive that the government has an ASB action plan, it is sadly lacking measures to improve the support available to victims. This is a huge hole. Tackling and preventing ASB is vitally important, but so is providing help and advice to those being targeted.”

During January, Radio 5 Live programmes will also be looking into what life is like as a police officer with exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes access, discussing everything from being a new recruit; to mental health; to delivering community outreach.

The special series, Policing The UK, is on BBC Radio 5 Live throughout January.

Notes

Methodology: Savanta interviewed 2,300 UK adults aged 18+ online between 15th and 18th December 2023. Data were weighted to be representative of the UK by age, sex, region and social grade.

Please find the full set of the survey results published by Savanta here:

Background from the Home Office:

Since 2010, crime in England and Wales excluding fraud and computer misuse, is down 56% (according to data from the Office of National Statistics Crime Survey for England and Wales)

Violence is down 52%.

Theft offences are down 47%.

Neighbourhood crime is down 50%.

The government has delivered its commitment to deliver 20,000 additional officers.

We have been the highest number of officers on record in England and Wales, with over 149,500 officers in post surpassing the previous peak of 146,030 officers in post in March 2010.

As part of our ASB action plan, we have implemented increased hotspot patrolling in areas experiencing high levels of ASB. That is being trialled in 10 police force areas this year.

In October 2023, the Home Office issued an update on the progress of the hotspot policing pilot.

This data showed that since hotspot uniformed patrols were rolled out in 10 pilot areas, there have been over 250 arrests, over 600 stop and searches and around 1,000 other enforcement actions.

We are also providing up to £50 million to establish new ‘Immediate Justice’ pathways aimed at delivering swift, visible punishment for anti-social behaviour. This has started in 10 initial trailblazer police force areas in July 2023.

At least 150,000 hours of additional hotspot patrols are set to be delivered by March 2024, with all forces rolling out the hotspot policing scheme later this year.