Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of trends in the levels of anti-social behaviour incidents in (a) Coventry, (b) the West Midlands and (c) England during the covid-19 outbreak; and what steps her Department is taking to tackle anti-social behaviour.

The ONS published their ‘Coronavirus and crime’ report on 26 August, which included a section on perceptions of crime, the police and anti-social behaviour. The report noted that 20% of adults in England and Wales reported experiencing or witnessing ASB locally in the last three months, while a similar proportion (21%) perceived ASB levels in their local area to have decreased during the pandemic period. A regional assessment was not included.

The Government is committed to tackling and preventing anti-social behaviour. We recognise the impact that persistent anti-social behaviour can have on victims. The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police, local authorities and other local agencies with a range of tools and powers that they can use to respond quickly and effectively to anti-social behaviour. These powers and tools continue to be applicable during this time.