Failure of policy in tackling anti-social behaviour according to Nacro review
A review of research by crime reduction charity Nacro into the effectiveness of anti-social behaviour measures suggests a failure of policy in cornerstone legislation intended to address the problem. According to the research, the anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) is cumbersome, costly and difficult to enforce.
The review, forming part of a briefing for community safety workers called Tackling anti-social behaviour: what really works, found that the average ASBO costs more than £5,000 to enforce and takes over three months to obtain. Over one third of all ASBOs were breached within the first 9 months of issue.
Instead, the report argues for a more holistic approach combining enforcement with preventative initiatives tailored to local conditions.
Good practice highlighted by the report includes the use of acceptable behaviour contracts and parental control agreements, along with youth schemes providing youngsters with activities and mentoring.
The report also argues that because there is no clear definition of what constitutes anti-social behaviour, confusion among local authorities over how to identify and respond to the problem is rife. What might be seen as anti-social behaviour in one setting might be regarded quite differently elsewhere.
The briefing suggests that local authorities should adopt their own statutory definitions of anti-social behaviour in consultation with local people.
Rachel Armitage of Nacros Crime and Social Policy Section said,
The Government has identified addressing anti-social behaviour as a priority in the fight against crime. Part of the problem is that while anti-social behaviour is undesirable and unpleasant, it is not always criminal.
ASBOs can work, but they undoubtedly work better if they take into account local circumstances. ASBOs can only ever prohibit behaviour. We must also realise that there are pro-active ways for communities to prevent it from arising in the first place.
ASBO, Queen's speech, Anti social behaviour, Crime prevention, councils
Drinks, drugs, violence, promiscuity: British youth at the top or near the top of the bad youth list. And they frighten grown ups.

A report by the Institute of Public Policy Research, to be published next week, describes British youth as among the worst in Europe. The study compares teenage English and Scots with their counterparts in other European countries. 

Fewer British youths ate regularly with their family, and many more spent most evenings with their friends; they were drunk more often, got involved in fights and more had sex than other European youth.

More British adults than Continental adults would be reluctant to intervene should they see youths vandalising a bus shelter fearing a violent response.  Many adults were fearful of leaving home after dark and a large number were thinking of moving home because of youths "hanging about".

The demonisation of youth in the British media is said to have induced real fear in many adults.

Many more comparisons are made in this report. 

====Related reports====

A study comparing the behaviour of South of England youth in 2005 with that in 1985, concluded that youth now are better behaved than their predecessors. There were marked differences between boys and girls.

ASBOs (Anti-social behaviour orders) are civil actions that can be taken against those who are likely to cause alarm, harassment, or distress to others outside their family. Research by NACRO (National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders) in 2002 concluded that they were a failure. The average ASBO costs more than £5,000 to enforce and takes over three months to obtain. Over one third of all ASBOs were breached within the first 9 months of issue. 

Another report published today by NACRO criticises some courts for using ASBOs inappropriately and too readily. ASBOs should be seen as the last resort for young offenders. There should be consultations with the local Youth Offending Team (YOT) and the reasons why other remedies were not suitable should be given. There were also indications that ASBOs are being used as weapons of racial discrimination, there being a disproportionate number of young black people being served with ASBOs. In some quarters, youths flaunt ASBOs as a badge of honour.