Programme 4 - Key issues
Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs)
They were first launched in 1998 under the Crime and Disorder Act, but updated early in 2004. They are designed to bring together social workers, school welfare officers, police and housing departments to tackle problem residents. If you receive an ASBO you will have strict conditions laid down on what you can do and where you can go.
If you break the conditions you then face criminal sanctions, which could eventually lead to imprisonment. ASBOs can also involve naming and shaming. There have been examples of young people having their photos put on a flyer with details of their ASBO, which has then been circulated to the local community.
Each ASBO costs between £6,000 and £10,000 to obtain. Some argue that the money could be better used within the community, especially improving facilities for young people.
The government is convinced that ASBOs are working. They have often been used in big city centres to curb drug dealing and abuse. Other supporters say that in the old days the community would have sorted out the problems itself but that doesn't happen any more and this is a way of bringing all interested parties together in an organised way. Opponents say that the real criminals are being ignored and soft targets like Ben and his friends are getting hit.
