Discuss - Crime ASBOs - Scrap ASBO's (Anti Social Behaviour Orders)

Should Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) be scrapped?

Conservative A Conservative government would introduce banning orders and extremism disruption orders - or EXDOs. A banning order could be used to outlaw a group that incites hatred or causes fear. EXDOs are based on ASBOs. They would stop "disruptive" individuals from speaking in public or holding a position of authority. There would also be a new law setting out victims' rights. Source: BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29464852

DUP "I have always been very sceptical of the real point of Asbos as for too many offenders they are nothing but a badge of honour, They are nothing more than a gentle request to halt anti-social activity or, reluctantly, an offender will have to be charged and prosecuted. I can only assume police have seen the disastrous waste of money these orders are and are planning on dispensing with them entirely." - DUP Assemblyman Lord Morrow

Green Party ASBOS set a dangerous precedent for youth’s privacy rights: in criminal courts, journalists are usually prevented from disclosing anything that could lead to youth’s identity being disclosed. In exceptional circumstances would a defendant under 18 be named. The mandate to name and shame youth’s granted under ASBOS, penalises both the individual and their entire family/friends by association. In some cases, where an ASBO has ordered the subject not to associate with certain people, those people (who have not been convicted) have been named in leaflets distributed to thousands of households. This means young people already at odds with their community, will be further vilified and excluded. Source: Green Party website: http://www.greenparty.org.uk/files/reports/2004/ASBOS.htm

Labour Steve Reed MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Office minister, responding to ASBO breach figures, said: "It’s shocking that David Cameron has chosen to weaken ASBOs so offenders can breach them without getting a criminal record. At a time when people across the country want tougher action against anti-social behaviour the Tory-led Government are going soft on crime. Law-abiding people will be outraged to see the Government more concerned about not criminalising persistent offenders than about taking the tough action that can stop them in their tracks." Source: Labour website http://press.labour.org.uk/post/65618963954/cameron-has-chosen-to-weaken-asbos-so-offenders

Liberal Democrat Commenting on a speech by the Home Secretary in which she said it was ‘time to move beyond’ Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs), Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Committee for Home Affairs and Justice, Tom Brake said: "The Home Secretary has listened to Liberal Democrat concerns. With more than half of ASBOs breached in 2008, this was a policy more about posturing than effective policing. Local communities know that other measures, such as Acceptable Behaviour Contracts can nip problems in the bud before they escalate. Resorting to ASBOs was a sign of failure." Source: Liberal Democrats website, http://www.libdems.org.uk/asbos_are_a_failed_policy_says_brake

Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru would replace ASBOs with a system of restorative justice. Source: BBC News Manifesto Watch, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29642613

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