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As the prime minister announced a renewed drive to tackle antisocial behaviour, critics have warned that young people are being put at further risk of offending because of a failure to address the causes of the problem, writes Maria Ahmed.

Unveiling new measures this week, Tony Blair pledged more help for 50 “action areas” across the country, and powers for councils to impose fines for offences such as littering and noise.

The government’s first report on antisocial behaviour showed that 2,600 antisocial behaviour orders have been issued since their introduction in 1999 – a number that looks set to increase with the introduction of the new measures.

Civil courts will also be given new powers to engage individuals with drug problems under asbos in treatment, a measure home secretary David Blunkett hopes will “close a gap” for those who have not already entered the criminal justice system.

Offending behaviour

But while many children’s charities agree with such measures to address the causes of antisocial behaviour, they believe an increase in the use of asbos will do little to reduce the risk of offending.

Policy officer for Rainer Chris Chaston said: “It is worrying that the home secretary now calls for more moderate councils to follow the lead of those handing out Asbos in such abundance. With asbos being handed out at such a rate, one has to ask what purpose they are serving. More than a third are being breached and young people are being stigmatised without getting the intensive, preventative support they need to change their lives.”

The Howard League for Penal Reform’s director Frances Crook also criticised the government’s “obsession” with antisocial behaviour, saying there is “no need” for further legislation. She called for the abolition of asbos for children.

Other campaigners expressed concerned about the over-stigmatisation of young people in the government’s report on antisocial behaviour.

War on young people

The report showed that Blunkett’s “war on yobs” largely translates as a war on young people, highlighting that those aged between 13-20-years-old were seen as the biggest perpetrators of antisocial behaviour.

Teenagers "hanging around on the streets” who were rowdy, blocking the street, using bad language or littering were seen by the public as the main problem, particularly in deprived areas.

Announcing the report this week, Blunkett commended local authorities and police for taking early action on offences by imposing curfews for under-16s – a measure campaigners view as highly controversial.

Human rights group Liberty are calling for an end to “criminalising” under-16s for being out on the streets and say such curfews were “simply unacceptable.”

Perceptions

Other children’s groups argue young people’s own perceptions of antisocial behaviour can widely differ from common definitions, undermining the findings of the government’s report.

Recent research conducted by young people in Liverpool on their peer’s attitudes to antisocial behaviour found the majority of those interviewed did not view “hanging around on the streets” as an offence. 

They also found teenagers did not see littering, swearing in public, and playing football in residential areas as antisocial acts.

Researchers from the Liverpool Youth Service engagement team said many young people were caught committing antisocial acts without realising they were doing anything wrong.

The government’s report also highlights that deprived areas are more at risk from antisocial behaviour from young people, but it fails to make the connection between poverty and offending, campaigners say.

A spokesperson for rehabilitation agency Nacro said the best approach would be “engaging positively” with young people who may be at risk of offending and addressing the “root causes” of their behaviour.

Richard Garside, director of The Crime and Society Foundation, a think-tank on  progressive crime policy, added: “Singling out often vulnerable individuals for special treatment, while doing little to address their needs, is unjust and ineffective.”

Breaches lead to custody

The government is also failing to acknowledge the rise of young people in custody due to antisocial behaviour laws, according to campaigners.

Nacro’s head of youth crime Chris Stanley said: “The number of young people in custody in this country has increased dramatically over the past couple of years and this trend is set to continue, at least in part because of the number sentenced to custody for breach of asbos. With over 85 per cent of young offenders already re-offending on release from custody, the future does not look bright for young people who breach asbos.”

In May 2004, chair of the Youth Justice Board Rod Morgan, also warned that there had been a rise in the number of children going to prison as a result of breaches of abos.

ABCs and YIPs

In a more positive light, the government report highlighted that around 5,383 Acceptable Behaviour Contracts have been issued in the last year, a measure supported by children’s charities.

Rainer is calling for continued investment in similar community-based approaches such as Youth Inclusion programmes, mentoring and mediation schemes, and said asbos should only be used “the last resort” when all other schemes have failed.

Chaston said: “These benefit the whole community by engaging with all its members and aim to instil a sense of responsibility and belonging. A solution-based model should be promoted as opposed to measures that focus purely on punishment. That’s what prevents crime in the future.”