Report Summary
This report provides members of the Policing Performance Committee with an update on key areas of COSLA’s work of interest to the Committee. The update focuses on strategic developments and cross-COSLA activity that links to policing.
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Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Policing Performance Committee - 16 September 2025
Date : 16 September 2025
Location : online
Antisocial Behaviour
The COSLA Community Wellbeing Board considered the recommendations of the Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour at its last meeting on 22 August.
The Working Group sets out 5 key recommendations and several other actions. An overview of the recommendations is provided below:
Setting up of an independently chaired oversight board to support a whole system approach;
Review current antisocial behaviour legislation, definition and guidance;
Systematic review of data and information gathering, analysis and exchange to enable more effective flow of data, better information gathering, new systems for reporting antisocial behaviour;
Development of a preventive framework outlining the supports and resources within public services to achieve upstream prevention, and
All Local Authorities should review and update their current Antisocial Behaviour Strategic arrangements and Strategies, to ensure a dedicated focus and spend on the prevention and addressing of antisocial behaviour.
The Board stressed the importance of prevention and flexible, multi-agency approaches to tackling antisocial behaviour, while avoiding duplication of existing national efforts through careful mapping of current work. It also highlighted that additional investment in Local Government is essential.
The Board also stressed that any review of legislation, while sensible, would need to retain existing flexibility of approach and include a cost impact assessment.
Members emphasised that any new data and reporting requirements must be properly resourced and avoid duplication. Finally, COSLA also argued that local authorities are best placed to decide when and how to refresh their antisocial behaviour strategies working with partners locally, cautioning against a mandated national approach given existing legislative duties and differing local timelines.
