By Mark Mackay

PERTH AND Kinross council is to receive £1.4 million over the next three years to support a vital service aimed at improving the area’s living standards.

The Scottish Executive funding will aid the efforts of the local authority’s Anti-Social Investigations Team (ASIT), which has now completed its first full year in operation.

The team was set up in June last year to investigate complaints of anti-social behaviour deemed to be of “a serious, protracted or prolonged nature.”

This followed hot on the heels of a community warden scheme instigated within Perth’s Letham and Hillyland housing estates, with whom ASIT now works in tandem.

A report to go before councillors at a meeting of the local authority’s community safety committee on Wednesday will highlight the value of the two services and their work.

The council’s executive director of housing and community care Dave Roberts said, “The introduction of the anti-social investigations team within the council has provided a means for community planning partner agencies to provide a co-ordinated approach to improving the living standards of communities in the authority area.

“If left unabated, antisocial behaviour will destroy the fabric of our communities resulting in degradation and neglect, financial implications and a loss of community spirit and pride.”

Over the next three years, Perth and Kinross Council should receive £1.4 million from the Scottish Executive to tackle anti-social behaviour—£409,400 in the year 2005/06; £480,000 in 2006/07 and £519,000 in 2007/08.

The funding was made available as part of the Scottish Executive’s commitment to building “strong, safe and attractive communities.”

Perth and Kinross Council’s ASIT members are available to anyone (not just council tenants) subjected to anti-social behaviour and enable area housing officers to concentrate on routine matters knowing complaints are being dealt with.

Investigators try to establish the cause of the problem and look at all options to resolve it.

However, where the evidence supports a complaint and if other options fail, an application for an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) can be made to the sheriff court, where in some cases investigators can act as “professional witnesses.”

Education is also seen as an important part of the partnership approach.

Presentations have been carried out by the team at community councils and tenants federation meetings, internal and external agencies, schools and other organisations.

It is hoped that the team will be re-inforced in the near future with an administrative support officer.

The community warden service meanwhile provides high visibility patrolling of the streets of Letham and Hillyland.