BASINGSTOKE'S MP has welcomed a new anti-social behaviour action plan which will give councils and police better ability to crack down on intimidating and unpleasant behaviour in their communities.

Maria Miller has welcomed the Prime Minister's new plan which it is hoped will allow for a cleaner, safer Basingstoke

In particular, there will be an additional focus on swifter evictions for anti-social tenants, increased police visibility, cracking down on ‘cuckooing’, and consideration of women’s safety in the planning framework.

Ms Miller said: "Anti-social behaviour is unacceptable in our community. Not only does it frequently lead on to more serious crime it also makes other people feel unsafe in their homes and erodes a sense of community. This is felt particularly acutely by women and girls.

READ MORE: MP Maria Miller urges people to take action on antisocial behaviour

"It's excellent to see greater onus placed on getting perpetrators of anti-social behaviour out of social housing where they not only cause nuisance but fear and distress to those with little other choice but to live next to them."

The MP explained that her office has been contacted by a number of upstanding tenants with many cases of terrible anti-social behaviour perpetrated by neighbours who are simply not evicted.

Outlined by the new action plan, the Government will update statutory social housing allocations guidance to be clear that evidence of committing anti-social behaviour should be used to de-prioritise these perpetrators, who should be at the back of the queue for social housing.

Under the plan, councils will have more powers to move in quickly when houses are left vacant – cutting the timeframe from when they can act from two years of a building being empty to six months.

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The Government will also consult on making cuckooing a specific criminal offence, which will work to protect the vulnerable victims and give police the recourse needed to address offenders.

The plan will make sure high streets are designed with safety and deterring anti-social behaviour in mind is key – a consultation will explore whether the National Planning Policy Framework should consider measures such as CCTV and extra lighting.