The Institutional Governance of Anti-social Behaviour

Abstract

This chapter reviews the establishment of anti-social behavioural (ASB) powers and assesses the ways these powers have been implemented in action by specific agencies of control, and towards certain social groups. This is followed by an examination of the ways ‘early intervention’ philosophies found their way into this agenda, including the ways these have been received and enacted by various community agencies such as the police, housing landlords, local authorities, the youth justice service, children’s services/social work, and similar community agencies. In so doing, the chapter draws on occupational culture literature to examine the traditional challenges faced while implementing reforms within organisations, most notably the police, and the effects of cultural resistance to soft policing. This is followed up by analysing the context of multi-agency working and how this has shaped occupational cultures and different responses to ASB.