PERPETRATORS of anti-social behaviour in Merseyside will face swift and visible justice as part of a new government action plan launched today (March 27).

The plan, launched by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, will see nitrous oxide banned and police given more powers to test for drugs on arrest.

The Government has pledged new moves that will see trials of swifter justice measures and increased policing in areas of England and Wales deemed to have high amounts of low-level crime.

Mr Sunak, who stressed the importance of "strong communities built on values", said that anti-social behaviour was "not the type of country that we are and that is why it is important we do something about it."

Under the plan, 16 areas in England and Wales, including Merseyside, will be funded to support either new ‘hotspot’ police and enforcement patrols in areas with the highest rates of anti-social behaviour, or trial a new ‘Immediate Justice’ scheme to deliver swift and visible punishments.

Offenders will be made to wear high-vis vests or jumpsuits and work under supervision while picking up litter, removing graffiti and washing police cars as punishment for their actions.

Victims of anti-social behaviour will be given a say in how criminals are disciplined to ensure justice is visible and fits the crime, according to the Department for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities.

Under the zero-tolerance approach, Nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” will also be banned to send a clear message to intimidating gangs, that hang around high streets and children’s parks and litter them with empty canisters, they will not get away with the behaviour.

The drug is now the third most used among 16 to 24-year-olds in England and both the police and public have repeatedly reported links between use of the drug and nuisance or anti-social behaviour.

Other measures include:

  • A reporting tool for the public to log anti-social behaviour and receive updates on any action to tackle it.
  • Increased fines for graffiti and littering, rising to up to £500, and up to £1,000 for fly-tipping.
  • Landlords and housing associations being given more powers to evict unruly tenants who create persistent noise.
  • Reopening empty shops by giving councils new powers to quickly take control and sell off empty buildings.
  • Setting up an anti-social behaviour taskforce jointly led by the Home Secretary and Levelling Up Secretary.

The 16 pilot Police and Crime Commissioner areas are:

  • Northumbria (Immediate Justice and Hotspot policing)
  • Cleveland (Immediate Justice and Hotspot policing)
  • Derbyshire (Immediate Justice and Hotspot policing)
  • Durham (Immediate Justice and Hotspot policing)
  • Nottinghamshire (Immediate Justice)
  • Merseyside (Immediate Justice)
  • Sussex (Immediate Justice)
  • Dorset (Immediate Justice)
  • Northamptonshire (Immediate Justice)
  • West Yorkshire (Immediate Justice)
  • West Midlands (Hotspot policing)
  • South Yorkshire (Hotspot policing)
  • Essex (Hotspot policing)
  • Lancashire (Hotspot policing)
  • South Wales (Hotspot policing)
  • Staffordshire (Hotspot policing)