Winchester's MP has welcomed the government’s new programme to tackle antisocial behaviour. 

Steve Brine is keen to support the new ‘immediate justice’ scheme, which is being put into place across England and Wales from 2024. 

The programme will see offenders wearing high-vis vests or jumpsuits and made to pick up litter, clear graffiti and clean police cars as punishment, all within as little as 48 hours after committing the offence.

Stronger fines of up to £1,000 will be implemented for littering, fly-tipping and graffiti, and victims of antisocial behaviour will be able to have a say in offenders’ punishment to ensure justice is visible and fits the crime. 

Ministers also announced that nitrous oxide will be banned in hopes to crack down on children’s parks being littered with their empty canisters and have given police the power to drugs test any suspect upon arrest. 

Mr Brine said: “I was very pleased to see, within this package, that nitrous oxide is to be banned and police given more powers to test for drugs on arrest. When I was out on patrol with the Winchester Litter pickers, I have picked up used canisters and they can be very dangerous. As a parent, and an MP, I am worried about their impact." 

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He also spoke on behalf of headteachers from the Hampshire area and referenced how schools have been impacted by repeat antisocial behaviour offenders.  

The MP added: “I have had discussions with a handful of local headteachers in recent months for whom this is a very real issue. It is often a small number of the same families causing big problems in their local area and we need a coordinated joined-up approach to help because, right now, they're feeling very alone and it's impacting everyone.” 

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Anti-social behaviour undermines the basic right of people to feel safe in the place they call home. The public have rightly had enough – which is why I am determined to restore people’s confidence that those responsible will be quickly and visibly punished. 

“This action plan maps out how we will tackle this issue with the urgency it deserves and stamp out these crimes once and for all – so that wherever you live, you can feel safe in, and proud of your community.”