tristar
20-01-04, 06:12 PM
Tuesday January 20, 06:42 PM
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Police Get New Powers To Stop Yobs
Police have been given a host of new powers to crack down on yobs, nuisance neighbours, vandals and drug dealers.Restrictions on air weapons, raising the age for legal possession from 14 to 17, are also now in force and it will also be an offence to carry an airgun in public "without lawful authority or excuse".
A range of on-the-spot fines are to be extended from adults to 16 and 17-year-olds for offences such as throwing fireworks and making hoax 999 calls.
Under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act, the Home Secretary David Blunkett will be able to extend the fines to children as young as 10 in the future.
Mr Blunkett, visiting a council office in Shepherd's Bush, West London, said: "For those people who have day-to-day misery from neighbours from hell, who have to put up with people urinating outside their front door, we are giving them a right of appeal to do something about it."
"With these new powers it will be much easier to take this head-on."
The age for legal possession of air guns has been raised from 14 to 17, and it is also be an arrestable offence to carry air weapons in public "without lawful authority or excuse".
Officers will now be able to close down crack cocaine houses within 48 hours - and keep them shut for up to six months.
The Act gives police-style powers to accredited private security guards.
Later in the year, security guards and Community Support Officers will get further powers under the same Act.
Police have also been given powers to stop cyclists for riding on the pavement.
They can also disperse groups of people who have gathered in an area designated an anti-social hotspot by the local council.
This aspect of the Act has been objected to by children's charities, who say it will victimise youngsters who had committed no crime.
Some race groups said it could also target ethnic minorities whose cultures traditionally involve street-corner gatherings.
Spotted this and let out a little cheer :salut:
This one is from Sky News
BREAKDOWN OF POLICE ANTI-SOCIAL POWERS
Some of the measures coming into force under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act include:
:: New restrictions on air weapons, raising the age for legal possession from 14 to 17.
:: Carrying air guns in public without lawful authority or excuse becomes an arrestable offence.
:: Newspapers and local councils can name tearaways convicted and punished with an anti-social behaviour order.
:: A range of on-the-spot fines to be extended from adults to 16 and 17-year-olds for offences such as throwing fireworks and making hoax 999 calls.
:: Giving county councils and housing action trusts permission to apply for anti-social behaviour orders to tackle nuisance neighbours.
:: More powers contained in the Act are due to come into force later this year.
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Last Updated: 13:30 UK, Tuesday January 20, 2004
**
Police Get New Powers To Stop Yobs
Police have been given a host of new powers to crack down on yobs, nuisance neighbours, vandals and drug dealers.Restrictions on air weapons, raising the age for legal possession from 14 to 17, are also now in force and it will also be an offence to carry an airgun in public "without lawful authority or excuse".
A range of on-the-spot fines are to be extended from adults to 16 and 17-year-olds for offences such as throwing fireworks and making hoax 999 calls.
Under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act, the Home Secretary David Blunkett will be able to extend the fines to children as young as 10 in the future.
Mr Blunkett, visiting a council office in Shepherd's Bush, West London, said: "For those people who have day-to-day misery from neighbours from hell, who have to put up with people urinating outside their front door, we are giving them a right of appeal to do something about it."
"With these new powers it will be much easier to take this head-on."
The age for legal possession of air guns has been raised from 14 to 17, and it is also be an arrestable offence to carry air weapons in public "without lawful authority or excuse".
Officers will now be able to close down crack cocaine houses within 48 hours - and keep them shut for up to six months.
The Act gives police-style powers to accredited private security guards.
Later in the year, security guards and Community Support Officers will get further powers under the same Act.
Police have also been given powers to stop cyclists for riding on the pavement.
They can also disperse groups of people who have gathered in an area designated an anti-social hotspot by the local council.
This aspect of the Act has been objected to by children's charities, who say it will victimise youngsters who had committed no crime.
Some race groups said it could also target ethnic minorities whose cultures traditionally involve street-corner gatherings.
Spotted this and let out a little cheer :salut:
This one is from Sky News
BREAKDOWN OF POLICE ANTI-SOCIAL POWERS
Some of the measures coming into force under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act include:
:: New restrictions on air weapons, raising the age for legal possession from 14 to 17.
:: Carrying air guns in public without lawful authority or excuse becomes an arrestable offence.
:: Newspapers and local councils can name tearaways convicted and punished with an anti-social behaviour order.
:: A range of on-the-spot fines to be extended from adults to 16 and 17-year-olds for offences such as throwing fireworks and making hoax 999 calls.
:: Giving county councils and housing action trusts permission to apply for anti-social behaviour orders to tackle nuisance neighbours.
:: More powers contained in the Act are due to come into force later this year.
**
Last Updated: 13:30 UK, Tuesday January 20, 2004