Blunkett stands his ground on asbos

The home secretary reiterated his commitment to antisocial
behaviour orders for young people today despite criticisms at a
youth justice conference in London, writes Maria
Ahmed.

Speaking at the Youth Justice Board’s annual conference, David
Blunkett conceded that asbos should only be used when all other
measures had failed.

He also stood firm on the government’s stance that young
offenders on asbos should be named and shamed, but only when orders
were breached and not when they were given out to an offender.

At the conference, a group of young offenders told the home
secretary they wanted to see more resettlement support in the
community for offenders leaving custody. They also supported a plan
for shorter sentencing.

The group pleaded for less police harassment of young people who
had done nothing wrong and suggested more activities in the
community would prevent offending.