MP slams ‘pointless’ rebranding of asbos
Reporter: Lobby Correspondent
Date published: 08 February 2011
PLANS to scrap asbos and bring in five new measures to tackle yobbish behaviour has been slammed by an Oldham MP.
Home Secretary Theresa May believes asbos do not work and instead believes police and local authorities should have a “toolkit” to deal with anti-social behaviour instead of one method.
Under plans now out for consultation five measures would replace the asbo, including the community trigger, which would mean councils are forced to take action if several people in the same neighbourhood complain or if one victim complains three times with no action being taken.
In addition, criminal behaviour orders would be attached to a criminal conviction banning people from going to certain places and placing requirements on them, such as attending a drug clinic. A breach could see people face up to five years in prison.
A crime prevention injunction is aimed at stopping anti-social behaviour before it escalates. In addition police could strip offenders of prized possessions such as iPods.
Oldham West and Royton MP Michael Meacher said: “This is just a rebranding exercise which seems totally pointless.
“The problem with asbos is that in some groups it was seen as a badge of honour, but this is complicating things and will not make it any better to police or enforce.
“It is not about changing the name we give something but how we enforce it. This is change for change’s sake.”
Crime Prevention Minister James Brokenshire said: “Instead of providing a specific tool to deal with every problem, we aim to introduce a handful of faster, more flexible and more effective tools that allow practitioners to protect victims and communities and get to the root of the problem.”
He described the new measures as “an effective toolkit to deal with anti-social behaviour — one that is quick, practical, easy to use and provides a real deterrent to perpetrators”.
Figures published last month revealed there were 105 asbos handed out across Greater Manchester in 2009, including to two children aged 12 and 14.
