News

The London Borough of Camden is considering extending a programme of targets for antisocial behaviour orders for its housing managers.

Last year, the council, which has been the most prolific dispenser of Asbos in the capital, set quotas of one Asbo or injunction per year for its 56 estate officers, who manage around 600 properties each.

And it is considering introducing a similar target regime for 2005-6.

Pressure group Asbo Concern condemned the targets. Campaign co-ordinator Matt Foot said: "You can't set targets for Asbos - it's the wrong way round."


He said it reflected Camden's hardline stance on antisocial behaviour, adding: "There are more Asbos obtained in Camden than in the whole of Wales. It's a very simplistic approach to a complex problem."

But he said the "tide was turning" against the excessive use of Asbos.

A Camden Council spokesperson said that the targets were designed to remind housing officers of the powers available to them, and were also applied to preventive measures.

She said: "Our approach is based on need and not number. We would not hold a housing manager to account for not meeting their number."