Parenting orders treble in two years

The number of parenting orders more than trebled between October 2003 and September this year in targeted areas, according to Home Office figures published this week.

There were 966 parenting contracts and orders issued in 60 “trailblazer and action” local authority areas that have received particular help to tackle antisocial behaviour.

The number of acceptable behaviour contracts also rose by 80 per cent in the same period, while there was a 50 per cent rise in the number of housing injunctions, banning people in social housing from behaving antisocially.

However, there were significant geographical variations. In Manchester, 476 housing injunctions were issued between 1 October 2004 and 30 September this year, compared with fewer than 10 in more than half of the other areas.

The figures also show perceptions of antisocial behaviour and criminal damage falling faster in trailblazer and action areas, prompting the government to claim its drive to tackle the problem was working.