Bradford Council and police launch major crackdown on anti-social behaviour (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford Council and police launch major crackdown on anti-social behaviour

9:00am Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News By Dolores Cowburn, Bradford Chief Reporter

Inconsiderate drivers and parents causing parking problems at schools are being targeted in a major crackdown as part of Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour Week.

Incommunities has joined forces with West Yorkshire Police and Bradford Council to tackle nuisance behaviour as part of the action, which runs to Sunday.

Council wardens and police officers will talk to parents about the dangers caused by incorrect parking around schools and encourage them to park at safe distances and walk children to the school gates.

In serious cases, officers will issue fines for parking and traffic offences.

Parents and children will also be advised on good pedestrian safety such as using safer places to cross, holding young children’s hands, and ‘stopping, looking and listening’.

Alternatives such as taking the bus and walking to school will also be highlighted.

Superintendent Vince Firth, of the Bradford District Community Safety Partnership, said: “There are often problems with people parking outside schools when dropping off and picking up their children. This is not only inconsiderate to other road users, but can also be potentially dangerous.

“We would ask parents to think of other road users and park away from school entrances. They should also avoid parking or stopping on the yellow Keep Clear markings and obstructing any private entrances nearby.

“We are determined to reduce problematic parking outside schools and during this week of action we will be encouraging people to park at safe distances away from the school. We will also be issuing fines where necessary.”

Meanwhile, the Council is taking tough action against irresponsible dog owners in a district-wide crackdown on dog fouling.

The wardens have been out since yesterday, with early morning and late evening patrols in known hotspots.

Some areas will be targeted by officers in plain clothes and the Council’s mobile wardens will be patrolling on motorbikes. Dog owners caught failing to pick up their dog’s waste will be issued with fixed penalty notices.

The wardens will also hand out dog waste bags and encourage owners to ‘bag it, tie it, bin it’. Dog fouling has been a persistent issue in some Bradford neighbourhoods and has been difficult to enforce.

There is no evidence dog fouling is worse in Bradford than other parts of the UK, but the Council said that it is responding to concerns raised in discussions with residents and at local forums. Dog owners failing to remove dog waste immediately after their dogs have defecated is an offence on all Bradford district public land. Exemptions apply to some disabled groups.

Council deputy leader, Councillor Imran Hussain, said: “People have the right to live in an environment free from dog waste.

“It is highly unpleasant, detrimental to the environment and poses clear health threats, particularly for young children. A minority of owners aren’t acting responsibly and their actions are blighting the environment and forcing the Council to incur unnecessary costs.”