YJB claims ASBOs are a ‘badge of honour’

Over-use of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) has lead to many youngsters regarding them as a ‘badge of honour’, an official study has warned.

In its first major independent study into how ASBOs are used on those under 18, the Youth Justice Board (YJB) has called for police, local authorities and sentencers to involve youth offending teams (YOTs) every time an ASBO is considered for young people.

Researchers interviewed professionals and sentencers, young people and their parents, in ten YOT areas to gain an insight into the effectiveness of ASBOs and to get the views and experiences of all involved. They found that:

• In seven out of the ten areas examined, YOTs had little or no involvement in the decisions that led to an ASBO being imposed.
• Some orders were made for five years or longer – considered by many to be a long time in a young person’s life, taking them from childhood into adulthood.
• Many young people did not understand the restrictions placed upon them, increasing the likelihood of breach.
• Some judges and magistrates are concerned that ASBOs are being overused because they require a lower level of evidence than criminal orders.

YJB Chairman Professor Rod Morgan said: “Let me be clear, the YJB is not against Anti-Social Behaviour Orders. They can, and do, work incredibly well. But for ASBOs to successfully reduce the likelihood of future anti-social behaviour, they need to be used correctly. That means exhausting every preventative measure in the community first, and ensuring that youth offending teams are not excluded from the ASBO process.”

The key, he said, to ensuring that ASBOs are effective in steering young people away from crime, is involving youth offending teams to provide the support and advice families need to help their troubled children. ASBOs do not work as intended when applied to children without any additional help or guidance.

Home Office Minister Tony McNulty spoke out in support of the orders, saying that they are used sparingly, and as a last resort to help troubled communities. “Young people may claim that ASBOs are a ‘badge of honour’, but the novelty soon wears off as they realise the restrictions the orders put on their day-to-day life, and the penalties they face if they don`t comply,” he said.

The benefit ASBOs provide, he said, can be found on the street in communities struggling with youth crime. “Ultimately, if ASBOs improve day-to-day life for people in the community, then it is working,” Mr McNulty said.