Two senior members of the Government met Tynemouth residents last week to discuss with them their concerns about anti-social behaviour. Cabinet Minister and Party Chair Rt Hon Ian McCartney and Cabinet Office Minister Douglas Alexander, joined local MP Alan Campbell to discuss concerns with a group of local residents.

The residents who asked to remain anonymous, have complained about local youths who have damaged property including their homes and cars. Alan Campbell has been working with the residents to tackle the problems and included the area in his recent consultation on reducing housing benefit for tenants who behave in an anti-social manner.

Alan Campbell said

"”It is important for Ministers to appreciate some of the problems local people experience when often young people behave anti-socially and make life a misery for their neighbours. I am grateful for the work of the local police in helping to tackle anti-social behaviour in this area and to the local people who have rightly, and bravely, concluded that unless local people make a stand on these issues the problems will not go away.”

Recent government legislation has given the police and local authorities new powers to tackle anti-social behaviour including anti-social behaviour orders, easier eviction of trouble tenants and new powers to tackle graffiti and vandalism. The government is currently considering adding the loss of housing benefit to trouble tenants to the powers available to local authorities.

Cabinet Minister and Party Chairman Ian McCartney said

"“Unfortunately in every town and city we find examples of the actions of a senseless few who spoil it for everyone else – blighting neighbourhoods with vandalism, littering and threatening behaviour. We are listening to the concerns of hard-working people and showing that these problems can be tackled providing local agencies like the council are prepared to make full use of the powers we have made available to them.”