RCT Council has successfully secured its first Anti-Social Behaviour Civil Injunction (ASBI) after a young person from within Rhondda Cynon Taf was issued with an Injunction at youth court recently (Tuesday, November 22, 2022).

The case is also significant as it is the first Civil Injunction application that RCT Council have made to a court and the first to be granted in the South Wales Police area. It sends a message to perpetrators of anti-social behaviour that such acts will not be tolerated and will come with consequences.

The young person has caused significant alarm and distress to their local community through actions including throwing items at cars and people, setting fire to property, vandalising and damaging property, and causing continuous harassment.

As part of the ASBI, the following conditions have been placed on the individual:

The Defendant is prohibited from acting or inciting others to act in an Anti-Social manner, that is to say, a manner that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household anywhere in Rhondda Cynon Taff (R.C.T).

The Defendant is prohibited, whether by themselves or by instructing or encouraging others, from threatening any person with violence and/or being verbally abusive towards any person anywhere in RCT.

The Defendant is prohibited from throwing any objects at any persons or vehicles or climbing onto properties which he does not own in RCT.

The Defendant will refrain from carrying a lighter on their person and will refrain from setting fire to any property or land that does not belong to them in RCT.

In addition, the following positive conditions are also included, which focus on supporting the young person to change their behaviour:

Continue to engage with all support services and attend all appointments that have been pre-arranged with them.

Engage with South Wales Fire and Rescue Services to complete any courses which they have been referred to.

The Injunction will run for one year, effective from 22/11/22 and also has a power of arrest attached to it.

Councillor Bob Harris, RCT Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities, said: “This judgement sends a very clear message that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated here in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

“I’d like to thank Council Officers and our partner organisations for their work in taking action to deal with this individual and I hope that some of the concerns of the community will be allayed as a result of the ASBI being issued.

“It is worth noting that both the individual and their parent/guardian welcomed the verdict as a catalyst to changing their behaviour, and we will ensure that the Council continues to provide the necessary support and engagement to encourage this change.

“In line with the commitments of this Council, we have recently recruited a team of Community Wardens to provide a high-profile and reassuring presence in our communities to tackle anti-social behaviour, and the feedback we have received from the public so far has been extremely encouraging.”

Chief Inspector Anthony Moyle of South Wales Police added: “I’d like to express my thanks and gratitude to all involved in this case. Their hard work and perseverance has resulted in a landmark case ruling which I have no doubt will send a strict message to those who will feel they can disrupt the peaceful majority in our communities through the scourge of anti-social behaviour.

“This is outstanding work and the outcome has resulted in the first ASBI achieved by any local authority within the force area.

“This example and our ability to crack down on ASB within local communities will hopefully serve as a case study for our other local authorities to learn from.

“We will continue to target individuals who are willing to cause harm to victims and communities through our work with partners both internally and externally to the police service.”