Teenage Girl Banned from Town Centre

A girl from Norwich has been banned from her local town centre after a string of anti social offences.

"Her list of wrongdoings included blowing an air horn in a disabled pensioner's ear, harassing supermarket staff and smashing bottles in a churchyard.

The teenager was also ran amok at a community centre, drank alcohol on the street, being involved in a violent altercation with Polish people and swearing at an off-duty chief inspector out jogging."

The Asbo was applied as a last resort, and her photos will be distributed around the town in order to make the ban easier for others to enforce.

'Sin Bins' for Asbo Families

This article from The Metro tells of a new Government plan to tackle "distruptive parents and their children", whereby they will be placed in special units and forced to observe strict rules and curfews.

The Home Office today unveiled the £15million UK-wide scheme aimed at boosting the Government's 'Respect' agenda. A total of 53 separate projects tackling anti-social behaviour will be funded, including seven in London.

Families will not be legally compelled to move into the new units. But they face being evicted, prosecuted or having their children taken into care if they refuse.

Constraints on them while under supervision may include curfews and a ban on late-night visitors.

Parents will also be monitored to ensure they are feeding children properly and putting them to bed in good time.


I understand the point about curfews and stricter rules on 'problem families' (whether or not it will work is a different matter) but it was the last point here that showed how much nannying this country is doing in order to deal with anti-social behaviour. Surely the government have got better things to do than to check whether children are being put to bed on time.

Furthermore studies have shown that housing problem families together will increase problems of crime and deviance (for example Terence Morris, and Rex and Moore). These so-called 'Sin Bins' will not solve the problem.

Parents face Asbo if they let children play football

An article from the Camden New Journal tells of how the council is warning families that if their children are found playing football on their estate they will be threatened with an Asbo.

"Anti-social behaviour orders are normally slapped on drug addicts, prostitutes and teenagers who terrorise neighbours. But simply kicking a ball around at the back of Grove Place estate could now spell trouble.
Camden Council gave permission for football on the estate in 2004 after receiving a residents’ petition but suddenly withdrew it on Thursday."

Not only is this an issue of the council going back on their word, it could also spell further problems with behaviour. It has often been argued that most teenagers and children act anti-socially because they are bored and don't have anything to do. Now that the children are doing something productive and getting fresh air and exercise (as they do get told to do), they are being given as Asbo for it.

ASBO Plan for Religious Extremists

Religious extremists could be given an AntiSocial Behaviour Order in a crackdown of extreme and radical behaviour this article in The Metro says.

"Police and prosecutors could use Asbos against suspects they can not charge with criminal offences under new guidance to tackle "radicalisers" announced by Attorney General Lord Goldsmith.

Police are also calling on members of the public to use a hotline to tip them off about anyone they suspect of preaching hatred.


This idea follows the successful use of Asbos on animal rights activists.

In my opinion, I do not think that this will work. An Asbo is too small a tool to use on an issue this big. Jail sentences, deportation, shoot to kill strategies have not curbed terrorism and extremist behaviour; how likely is it that an Asbo will?

Teenager Banned From His Own Neighbourhood

This article from This is Hertfordshire tells of a Surrey teenager who has been banned from his own neighbourhood after years of terrorising neighbours and shopkeepers.

"The Asbo bans him from moving through his Tadworth neighbourhood unless he is on public transport, making his way directly home or accompanied by his parents, the police or a social worker."

The True Cost of Enforcing an ASBO

An article from Leeds Today newspaper, published on March 31st provides the true cost of enforcing an Asbo in Leeds:

~Fifty-seven per cent of those handed an Asbo have breached its terms
~Each Asbo costs a staggering £1,700 to enforce in the courts; however this is less than the national average of £2,500
~Nearly £165,000 of taxpayers' money has gone into securing Asbos