Opinion: Hot Issue - Should parish councils have antisocialbehaviour powers?

YES - Tony Mabbott, parish crime and community safety officer, Woughton Parish Council, Milton Keynes.

We welcome the idea, but our strength is not enforcement. Our main strength is that we are a community-based resource. We do have a uniform, but it is a very informal one. Part of our strength also lies in the fact that we are seen as part of our community, and not as part of the police. Regardless of what powers we are given, I would want that to remain our main strength. But I do think that these powers would add another string to our bow. Obviously, we would have to exercise those powers responsibly and we would want to work out some of the protocols for dealing with it. But it wouldn't change our emphasis, which is on working with the community. It is the community that suffers from antisocial behaviour, and if having those powers can help us make a difference, then that is something we would welcome.