Dialling 0870 220 2000 will put you in touch with an expert at the TOGETHER Action Line who will provide information and discuss solutions and best practice to help tackle anti-social behaviour throughout England and Wales. The Home Office TOGETHER Academy brings together practitioners to provide advice and training on specific issues to transform the way that they tackle anti-social behaviour.The Academy is offering to stage ‘Action Days’, free of charge, in any locality to help local agencies take effective action to tackle anti-social behaviour. A call to the action line number will start the process. Leading anti-social behaviour practitioners will visit local agencies to help find solutions to intractable problems, refocus action to get results, encourage use of the full range of new anti-social behaviour powers and help remove barriers that are preventing progress. The topic areas can be tailored to meet local needs and could include: environmental crime, nuisance neighbours, obtaining Anti Social Behaviour Orders and other civil interventions.

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The rush by public bodies to install technology to meet requirements of the Freedom of Information Act has yet to start. When the Act comes into force in January 2005 government departments, councils, police and health services will have to disclose information within 20 days, providing there is no specific exclusion preventing disclosure.A survey by Comino found that only 17 per cent of Local Authorities have set aside budgets to implement new electronic systems that would simplify the search for information. Another survey by ZyLAB has revealed a third of public sector bodies believe their internal information handling systems will struggle to implement the new legislation.

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By Barry Simpson Reproduced by permission of the Public Management and Policy Association People in the UK now travel three times as far in a week compared to 1952, but this greater mobility has led to diminished accessibility. Local services have declined and food deserts have emerged. Those without cars can become socially excluded. The author argues it is time to question what travel is necessary and to look at measures such as reduction of public expenditure to foster social inclusion.