welcomed government plans to introduce yearly reviews of ASBO’s.
The plans were outlined in a major speech on anti-social behaviour delivered by the Home Secretary at Westminster yesterday (8 May) to an audience of Anti-Social Behaviour co-ordinators and police officers, housing departments and social landlords.
The government is proposing to introduce automatic one-year reviews of young people with ASBO’s to ensure that the orders are working and to pave the way for other interventions if necessary.
Councillor David Napier, chairman Safer Gateshead, has welcomed the proposal.
“This sounds like a sensible course of action,” he says.
“As a local councillor, I know only too well the effect that anti-social behaviour can have on a community if it goes unchallenged. So we have been happy to use the many powers now available to tackle the more persistent offenders.
“Those powers don’t just mean ASBO’s - we have also used parenting orders, anti-social behaviour injunctions and Class A closure orders to close down premises where there is evidence of drug misuse.
“However, we believe in taking a graded response to the problem, trying a range of different interventions first before using the ultimate sanction. Because we see ASBO’s as a tool of last resort, our breach rate is higher than the national average because in Gateshead only the most difficult and troubled offenders – and therefore those most likely to breach them - actually receive them.
“The proposed annual reviews of ASBO’s mean we can check to see that the orders we do obtain are working effectively, but it will also highlight if there are other more appropriate responses we should be making.”
He adds: “ASBO’s are an important weapon in our arsenal, but we think they can often have more effect in bringing those on the periphery of serious anti social behaviour into line by acting as a warning.”
There are presently only two young people in Gateshead who are subject to Anti Social Behaviour Orders.
Currently, an ASBO lasts for a minimum of two years and at present there is no formal review process. The government’s proposal will formalise a process that in many cases is already happening.
The Government's recently published Youth Taskforce Action Plan places greater focus on working with families, young people and parents at an earlier level to stop the Anti Social Behaviour escalating – something which is already happening in Gateshead.