Youth offending teams usually not involved in Asbo decisions

Youth offending teams are not or barely involved in 70 per cent of decisions leading to young people receiving antisocial behaviour orders, research published today finds.

The Youth Justice Board study of 137 cases in 2004-5 found almost half of young people breached their Asbo, and many lacked a clear idea of the restrictions on them.

Without YOT involvement, young people and parents lacked the support to understand and comply with Asbos, it said, calling on councils and police to engage with teams.

The study also found young people from ethnic minorities received 22 per cent of Asbos, significantly higher than their representation in the population.

Related article
More on the Youth Justice Board Asbo study.