Preston City Council has been working with organisations to reduce anti-social behaviour that has affected the city centre and other areas in the past few months.

A Notice of Motion on the topic was submitted by Councillor Hindle this month.

The Council noted some issues, including that the City Centre and many other wards in the City have suffered an increase in anti-social behaviour in recent months. This has resulted in several arrests of young people for arson and criminal damage.

In addition, it was noted that anti-social behaviour is detrimental to community life and puts in danger the lives of those responsible as well as those residents affected by such behaviour.

Preston City Council is not directly responsible for the provision of youth services in the City.

The Council has however, been closely involved with tackling this anti-social behaviour by working with partner agencies through its community safety and health and safety functions.

This Council is also progressing the creation of a youth zone in the City Centre.

Read more: Preston city centre location approved for new Preston Youth Zone

The Council resolved that the Chief Executive writes to the Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner and Cabinet Member for Children and Families at Lancashire County Council and asks them to respond to the following in order to work in collaboration with the Council, to help assist in the reduction in anti-social behaviour and fire-starting:

• Are you able to map out the current youth service/youth club provision across Preston?
• Using community partnerships can you help make young people aware of the existing services e.g. by using social media?
• Can you identify any gaps in youth service/ youth club provision and investigate any options to fill these gaps?
• Consider undertaking a City-wide engagement to gather the views of young people on youth provision in the City?
• Identify barriers to accessing these services in the City and consider how these barriers could be overcome?
• Consider setting up a multi-agency task and finish group to include Youth Council representatives?

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