Johnson: government has "coasted" on anti-social behaviour

Alan Johnson, the new Home Secretary, has pledged to renew the government's efforts to tackle antisocial behaviour after admitting that ministers had been “coasting” on the issue in recent years.

In his first interview since taking up the position in the cabinet reshuffle earlier this month, Johnson conceded that the government had lost the initiative.

He told the Times: “I want to ensure there is particular emphasis on antisocial behaviour. I think we have done an awful lot on that and we have kind of coasted a bit. The coasting has allowed some of our critics to suggest that [action against] antisocial behaviour has not achieved very much. Well it has.

“What I think we have done is rested on our laurels. We need a new drive on antisocial behaviour.”

Critics of the government argue that dividing responsibility for tackling antisocial behaviour between the Home Office and the Department for Children, Schools and Families has led to policy inertia.

In the interview, Johnson also warned that concern about migrants taking vacancies was corroding race relations and fuelling support for the British National Party (BNP). He argued that those anxious over immigration can no longer be dismissed as “right-wing nutters” and that a more nuanced approach is needed.

Johnson promised to launch a new antisocial behaviour action website providing information on local officials to available to deal with the problem.

He also promised to provide access to a comprehensive record of all local authority action.

“People will be able to see how many crack houses have been closed, how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued and how many parenting orders have been issued,” he said.

He adds that many people still feel unable to leave their homes due to fear over youth violence.

“Sometimes it is very low-level stuff,” he said. “It is a crowd of kids sitting on a wall outside your house and because the houses are very small and close together and because generally it is a summer’s evening and it is the only place to go, you feel as if you are under threat.”