News

Almost half of children given antisocial behaviour orders have breached the orders, leaving them at risk of being put in prison, a new report has revealed, writes Maria Ahmed.

Probation union Napo found that 39 per cent of 10-15 year-olds and 38 per cent of 16-17 year-olds breached asbos between 2000 and 2001, according to the most recent Home Office figures.

Napo’s report on the use of asbos also showed that the number of orders imposed on young people has almost doubled year on year since they came into force in 1999.

The union raised concerns over figures showing that a total of 622 asbos were given to 10-15 year olds and 555 to 16-17 year-olds between June 2000 and March 2004.

Many young people were receiving custodial sentences where the original offence was not imprisonable, the report found, resulting in the “abuse” of custody.

“Asbos are being used against young people whose behaviour may be antisocial but not necessarily threatening. It is being used to deal with nuisance which could be dealt with in other ways,” the report says.

Napo is now calling for an urgent Home Office review into the use of Asbos.

* The union has collected a number of case studies over the last 12 months. Here are some examples:-

1. Earlier this year an application was made in Manchester for an ASBO on a female prostitute.  It was alleged she was causing a nuisance in Manchester by accosting men and generally causing offence.  The magistrates agreed to an ASBO.  One of its conditions was that she was prohibited from carrying condoms within the given area.  Unfortunately her drug clinic was within the restricted area and one of the services it provided was the provision of free condoms as part of its harm-reduction strategy.  She has now breached the order, has been put on probation and is facing the possibility of prison.

2. In May 2003 a 19-year-old was banned from entering his own home on his release from prison. (source – Statewatch ASBOwatch)

3. In October 2004, a profoundly deaf girl was served an order for spitting in public. Having broken it she is currently in prison on remand. (source – Statewatch ASBOwatch)

4. In October 2004, a 15-year-old was served an order for playing football in the street. (source – Statewatch ASBOwatch)

5. A 17-year-old Birmingham youth as been banned from travelling on the top deck of buses.  The conditions of his ASBO are that he cannot travel on a bus unless he sits where the driver and other passengers can see him. (source –BBC News)