A Report on the Consultation Responses to Putting Our Communities First: A Strategy for tackling Anti- Social Behaviour
Chapter Two The Consultation Process
This chapter provides an account of the various elements of the consultation process.
2.1 Ministerial Visits to Constituencies
Ministers conducted visits to constituencies at the invitation of MSPs. These visits consisted of meetings with members of local communities to hear about their experiences of anti-social behaviour, to discuss the proposed measures for addressing anti-social behaviour and to identify other issues arising relating to this issue. Ministers also visited a range of projects and initiatives relating to anti-social behaviour throughout Scotland. The full list of constituency visits is given in Appendix B. The full list of projects visited is given in Appendix D. Notes were taken at each of these meetings, and these notes have been considered in the preparation of this report. The majority of this information has been incorporated into Chapter Four, although where specific points have arisen they are considered in the relevant chapters of the report.
2.2 Stakeholder Meetings
Ministers and officials had a series of meetings with key stakeholder groups and organisations to discuss the proposals and to identify issues arising. A full list of these stakeholder meetings is given in Appendix C. The notes from these stakeholders meetings have been considered in the preparation of this report, and have been incorporated into a number of the report's chapters.
2.3 Putting Our Communities First: Written Responses to the Consultation
On the 26 th June 2003, the Scottish Executive published its consultation paper, entitled Putting Our Communities First: A Strategy for tackling Anti-social Behaviour. The document described a wide range of measures for addressing anti-social behaviour, based around four themes of protecting and empowering communities, preventing anti-social behaviour- children and families, creating safe, secure and attractive communities and effective enforcement. The document set out 61 specific questions, based on 17 sub themes. Written responses were invited to the document, with a closing date of the 11 th September 2003. 342 responses were received in time and are included in the analysis presented in this report. 127 of these responses were from individuals, with the remaining 115 coming from local and national organisations. A full list of responding organisations is given in Appendix A. The written responses and comments on particular questions made during the consultative meetings form the basis for Chapters Six to Ten of this report.
2.4 Web-based Questionnaire
A link from the Scottish Executive website sought the views of young people about anti-social behaviour. Although the website sought general views about anti-social behaviour, answers to four specific questions were sought, relating to Parenting Orders, electronic tagging, restorative measures relating to vandalism etc. and groups of young people. A total of 44 responses were received, although the majority of these were from adults. 42 responses were from individuals, with two further responses providing the results of small-scale consultations with young people. These responses have been incorporated into Chapters Four and Five of this report.
2.5 MSPs Questionnaires
Four MSPs returned questionnaires that they had issued to their constituents about the Scottish Executive's proposals. They received 29, 218, 479 and 139 responses respectively. The results of a survey of constituents were submitted by another MSP, although no details of the number of responses included in the survey were provided. The findings of these questionnaires are discussed in Chapter Four.
2.6 Newspaper Campaigns
Two newspapers, The Greenock Telegraph and The Daily Record, sought the views and experiences of their readers relating to anti-social behaviour. There were 64 and 150 responses respectively. Although these exercises are not directly linked to the official consultation exercise, the letters received through this process have been considered by the authors of this report. These responses are discussed in Chapter Four.