Police want to pursue softly-softly approach

Wales will continue to spurn the use of antisocial behavioural
orders in favour of more rehabilitative approaches to tackling
social problems, a senior policeman advising the Welsh assembly has
said.

John Gustafson, an inspector at Dyfed-Powys Police and member of
the assembly’s community safety unit, said the 22 co-ordinators of
antisocial behaviour partnerships, which involve housing, social
services and law enforcement agencies, have been trained to use
Asbos as a last resort only.

They have been told to use less confrontational measures, such as
setting up meetings between the partnership and perpetrators of
antisocial behaviour, providing advice on tackling the causes of
such behaviour, and developing acceptable behaviour
contracts.

Last week, some Welsh police chiefs called for greater use of
Asbos.