To ask the Minister of Justice to detail any assessment her Department has been made of the impact of anti-social behaviour on footfall, business confidence and the evening economy, in town centres, such as Coleraine.

Policing and Community Safety Partnerships (PCSPs), funded by my Department and the Northern Ireland Policing Board, play a key role in the Department’s operational response to community safety and ASB across all communities in Northern Ireland. PCSPs liaise with local communities and other key partners, including local statutory bodies/agencies and the voluntary and community sector, to develop appropriate actions to deal with, and reduce, the impact of ASB.

To create their 2026-27 Action Plan, Causeway Coast and Glens PCSP carried out a strategic assessment to confirm local priorities. The result of this assessment was Theme One being identified as ASB, with the top four behaviours identified as: Alcohol / Drugs Abuse; Youth causing annoyance; Litter; and Vehicle nuisance.

Specific projects overseen by Causeway Coast and Glens PCSP to tackle issues of ASB include: a graffiti removal scheme; talks at schools; the local Support Hub; events held by PCSP involving Crime Prevention Officers; Neighbourhood Watch Schemes (with specific support groups focusing on ASB); Safer Driving Projects aimed at reducing anti-social driving and; a Grant Scheme providing constituted groups up to £999 to develop localised solutions to ASB.

Whilst my Department has not made a specific assessment on the impact of ASB on footfall, business confidence and the evening economy my officials are currently considering ASB legislation with a view to bringing forward amendments to the current framework in the next assembly mandate.

You may wish to contact the Causeway Coast and Glens PCSP directly to discuss any issues of particular concern in the context of your question: pcsp@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk