Asbos applied for too long, says board

The Youth Justice Board has raised concern over the “excessive”
length of time for which antisocial behaviour orders are imposed on
children as young as 13.

Research by the YJB submitted to MPs on the home affairs committee
this week shows that Asbos ranged from the minimum 24 months to 10
years. The board questioned whether it was effective for orders on
young people to be “so far in excess of the minimum length…
considering how much a young person’s circumstances and maturity
can change within that period”.

Giving evidence to the same committee, the Association of Directors
of Social Services argued that parenting orders for people whose
children had Asbos should be scrapped, saying help should be
offered to families instead.