Probation officers call for Asbo review
The use of anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) by courts in England and Wales, should be reviewed say probation officers.
The probation officers’ union Napo says that the scheme is being “abused” and claims that beggars and prostitutes are being imprisoned for breaching orders, even though they could not be jailed for their original offence.
A new report released by the union says that decisions about whether to issue an Asbo are based on a “geographical lottery”, with courts in Greater Manchester reportedly five times more likely to issue an order than those in Merseyside.
Anti-social behaviour orders were introduced by the Government in 1999 as a method of allowing police and local authorities to curb unruly behaviour.
They are usually issued to prevent individuals being a nuisance to their neighbours and cover a number of anti-social acts including theft, intimidation, drunkenness or violence.
Anyone breaching an Asbo can be arrested and can face imprisonment for up to five years.
The Home Office says Asbos are a “powerful deterrent” to those subject to the criminal sanction and claims that less than a third of orders are breached.
