People banished from central London for antisocial behaviour ‘cut off from vital services’

A London day centre for young homeless people said ASBOs banning its clients from central London were stopping them using its services.

In London the orders often ban people from the three central boroughs of Camden, Islington and Westminster, where the majority of the capital’s drug treatment, prostitution and homeless support centres are located.

Clients could lose hostel places and good drug treatment work could be undone as a result of them being unable to get support. These setbacks could actually increase antisocial behaviour.

Shelagh O’Connor, director of the New Horizons centre near King’s Cross in Camden, said antisocial behaviour should not go unchecked but that ASBOs could have damaging side-effects for clients.

She said: “We recognise that a lot of these clients and their behaviour can have a serious effect on local communities and we work with them to ensure they accept the needs of residents.

“But we’re concerned that the ASBOs are putting very vulnerable people at risk.

“There isn’t the same level of drug rehabilitation and health service provision in outer boroughs and it’s difficult for clients to rebuild trust with new providers.”

We’re concerned that the antisocial behaviour orders are putting very vulnerable people at risk

Shelagh O’Connor, New Horizons

She said a condition of issuing an ASBO should be that clients are connected to new services first and given proper support.

She added that Camden council now gives the day centre an opportunity to act as advocates for clients in pre-ASBO meetings.

A new national campaigning group has been set up to oppose ASBOs by the great-nephew of former Labour leader Michael Foot.

Provisionally titled Alliance Against ASBOs, the group was set up by solicitor Matt Foot and had its initial meeting last Thursday.

The Howard League for Penal Reform, the National Association of Probation Officers and the Children’s Society are interested in joining and Foot also hopes to attract members from the housing sector.

The group is set to meet in the new year and agree on a remit.