Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour: review report

The significance of prevention

Throughout this review we heard a consistent and relentless call for a more focused approach to prevention, with concerns being raised that Scotland has failed to meet the expectations outlined above. Prevention means many different things to many people but almost all those we consulted called for an ‘upstream approach, one that lifts everyone above the water line.

“You and a friend are having a picnic by the side of a river. Suddenly you hear a shout from the direction of the water - a child is drowning. Without thinking, you both dive in, grab the child, and swim to shore. Before you can recover, you hear another child cry for help. You and your friend jump back in the river to rescue her as well. Then another struggling child drifts into sight… and another… and another. The two of you can barely keep up. Suddenly, you see your friend wading out of the water, seeming to leave you alone. “Where are you going?” you demand. Your friend answers, “I’m going upstream to tackle the guy who’s throwing all these kids in the water.” - A public health parable (adapted from the original, which is commonly attributed to Irving Zola)”- Dan Heath^[6]

That antisocial behaviour is preventable is the guiding principle of this review.

Consistently, however, we heard that prevention as an entity is under-resourced; despite well-meaning intentions, we have failed to move resources to prevent problems from arising and that our fiscal landscape is still reactive and focused on pulling people out of the water after they have fallen in.

Understanding why people behave in ways that others find unpalatable, difficult, unwanted, distressing, hurtful, destructive is key to determining the best preventative approaches; as is better understanding of the long-term support that those who are victims of antisocial behaviour require.