The government's promotion of antisocial behaviour orders conflicts with its aim to reduce the country's prison population, a youth worker has warned.
According to Home Office surveys, nearly two-thirds of ASBOs granted have been against people under the age of 18. Breaching the orders can mean a two-year custodial sentence for 15-18 year olds.

The figures also show that, on average, more than a third of ASBOs are breached.

Mike Thomas, head of youth offending services at Luton council, said local authorities were under increasing pressure to use ASBOs, despite the likelihood that they will be breached.

In addition, last year, the government extended the scope of ASBOs by allowing housing associations to apply for them (HT 14 November, page 7).

Thomas said: "The government has given councils these powers, and told them to get on with it, but it's ridiculous to make an order knowing that it's not going to work at the end of the day."

Ian Williams, cabinet member for community at Norwich City Council, agreed that ASBOs were not effective in cases involving young people.

He added that ASBOs were often applied to young people who had "already been failed", and were therefore more likely to breach the order.

Williams called for ASBOs to be used in tandem with support measures that would help entire families address the problem of antisocial behaviour.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "ASBOs aren't the be-all and end-all of tackling antisocial behaviour, they are just one of the tools on offer. Breaches of ASBOs do not often lead to custody, and they do not signify that antisocial behaviour is not being reduced or tackled."

Source

Housing Today