Downing Street Says » Anti-Social Behaviour

Asked for further statistical information about Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs), the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that more than 2,400 ASBOs had been issued since being introduced in 1999, with 1,323 taken out in the year to March 2004. The use of ASBOs had therefore increased by 50% in the last year. It was clear that the powers were starting to take grip and were being used more widely up and down the country. However, the purpose of the Prime Minister’s visit to Harlow today was to encourage their use more widely. The PMOS pointed out that 422 ASBOs had been issued in Greater Manchester since 1999 – up 232% since 31 March 2003. 59 ASBOs had been issued in Liverpool – up 139%. 122 ASBOs had been issued in Leeds – up 430%. 48 ASBOs had been issued in the London Borough of Camden – up 182%. These figures showed that local councils, local authorities and the police were beginning to see how effective the powers actually were and were starting to use them more widely.

Asked how the ASBOs were being used, the PMOS pointed to the use of Fixed Penalty Notices. He also noted that Harlow had been the first council to use dispersal orders to break up gatherings of people. The powers were clearly beginning to bite. Asked if there was a sense of frustration that some councils, such as Lambeth and Hackney, were not using the powers that were available to help combat anti-social behaviour, the PMOS said that part of the problem was the fact that some local authorities remained to be convinced of the effectiveness of the powers. The purpose of the Prime Minister’s visit to Harlow today was to highlight their value as a tool to tackle anti-social behaviour. It was also why a team of ‘ambassadors’ and experts had been appointed to show councils what could be done. In some areas, pressure from the local community had led to the powers being used. That could only spread. Asked whose job it was to issue ASBOs, the PMOS said that they were issued by the local authorities. The areas covered included environmental crime, nuisance neighbours and supporting witnesses.

36 Comments »

It would be a FAR better idea if young people had DECENT paid job`s to go to each day.It is society to BLAME not the young people.BAD housing,POOR education,POVERTY.It`s M.P`s.we should be putting Anti-Social Behaviour Order`s ON.
Comment by george dutton — 3 Sep 2004 on 1:31 am | Link
I now see that it`s goverment policy to build tenement block`s once more, 2/3 bedroom FLAT`s to bring children up in.Complexes with playarea`s where youth`s can gather on a nightime to drink alcohol,take drug`s and make trouble.There putting two up next to where I live.The area is DEEPLY troubled with unemployment/crime/drug`s and has the same type of housing already.The council`s answer to tackling all the problem`s we have is to build the same again UNBELIEVABLE but TRUE.My M.P. say`s it`s a nice and pleasant place to live and work (I have his letter)of course he has moved out of this area!.The area has two VERY large social/drinking club`s (that can hold hundred`s) within five minutes walking distance of each other,three takeaway`s,two late night corner shop`s that sell alcohol to youth`s,five pub`s.It has a lot of housing problem`s!.When I pointed all this out to my M.P. all he said was "I painted a very black picture of the area".There again he has a lot on his mind at the moment what with getting his new partner put in as prospective labour candidate into the next constituency and fighting to have an unelected second chamber.
Comment by george dutton — 3 Sep 2004 on 2:34 am | Link
Talking about the UNELECTED second chamber if it turn`s out to be so!.I wonder as ex M.P`s.get put into it,will they get paid!,will they also receive there pension`s from there day`s in the House of Common`s!!!.
Comment by george dutton — 3 Sep 2004 on 10:11 am | Link
I should have warned any of you that if you EVER put OBJECTION`S in to any council on planning issues DON`T BOTHER the COUNCILLOR`S DON`T READ THEM.I wrote out a six page (A4) list of objection`s and when I went to the meeting where they pass planning decision`s the council`s planning dept had condensed it all down (and all the other objection`s as well from other`s) to three line`s on the sheet that goes before the councillor`s for there consideration!.DEMOCRACY what DEMOCRACY would that be!!!.Council`s see all the extra MONEY coming in from large tenement block`s to pay there ever growing salaries.Many of them that head council dept are on gross amount`s of MONEY and see council tax as an easy way to keep there income going ever up,even if the band is band A.After all you get more money from fifty flat`s then you would from ten house`s say in band D.When the social cost has to be met the council`s go back to government`s for the extra cash needed!.It`s a NO LOSE situation for the council`s higher up`s they live in VERY NICE DETACHED HOUSE`S in VERY NICE AREA`s there again they can afford to!!!.
Comment by george dutton — 4 Sep 2004 on 10:59 am | Link
And don`t forget M.P`s have to look after there own councillor`s there expenses have to be met!.Lose there support and they WILL lose you your seat!.Of course you could alway`s get them on to more QUANGO`S,there a nice BIG earner for friend`s and family and party member`s.
Comment by george dutton — 4 Sep 2004 on 12:27 pm | Link
I have no DOUBT that one of the REASONS WHY people don’t like READING YOUR MAIL is because YOU SEEM TO HAVE TOURETTE’S SYNDROME.

Will you PLEASE give the SHIFT key a REST.
Comment by Gregory Block — 4 Sep 2004 on 1:51 pm | Link
"It would be a FAR better idea if young people had DECENT paid job`s to go to each day"

Are you *actually* inferring that the reason some areas suffer from hooliganism is a lack of well-paid jobs in the area? Bill Gates himself can open up a new Microsoft development office dab smack in the middle of a council estate, and it will do nothing – the problem isn’t one of jobs, per se, but of a whole range of social issues – education, financial support, literacy, alcoholism, violent behavior, abusive families, and a whole host of others. To pretend, for an instant, that jobs are a solution to every problem is more than just narrow-minded, it’s mindless.

Sometimes, your arguments really, really do need a bit more thought. Council estates aren’t turning people into drug addicts; it’s not like there’s an evil spirit who moves into these things and corrupts the minds of the youth of today. This isn’t about a building, this is about you not wanting ‘those people’ on your doorstep.

Place the blame on MPs if you like – but your testimony needs no answer.
Comment by Gregory Block — 4 Sep 2004 on 1:57 pm | Link
You don`t like other people to have a say do you Gregory!.It`s all about Gregory,you must have a VERY sad life!!!.
Comment by george dutton — 4 Sep 2004 on 2:03 pm | Link
If you read my post`s you will see that I said there were a lot of reason`s why it all happen`s.YOU don`t read my post`s Gregory,and not for the first time is it!!!.As I said you don`t like ME.That`s your problem.
Comment by george dutton — 4 Sep 2004 on 2:07 pm | Link
I have to say I don`t like your right wing view`s but I say you are ENTITLED to them.And you are ENTITLED to come on to this site and voice them without someone else coming on and being ABUSIVE.
Comment by george dutton — 4 Sep 2004 on 2:14 pm | Link
I really don`t know why I respond to you Gregory.If people read my FIRST post and then read your SECOND post who do you think they would say should give there keyboard a REST.
Comment by george dutton — 4 Sep 2004 on 2:41 pm | Link
1) If we’d all stop using words like "right wing" as a filthy slang, we’d go a lot further towards including more people in politics.

2) The view that jobs aren’t a solution isn’t a right-wing idea; moreover, the statement that only education and a rebalancing of the social issues can solve the problem is flat-out left-wing, bordering on Marxism. And while not a Marxist, I’ll happily admit to believing that there are some things that only a government is able to do something about reliably.

3) The viewpoint that "council estates are not innately evil" is part of that fundamental point; there is nothing inherently bad about councils providing block housing. The problems everyone thinks are endemic to council estates aren’t – they’re endemic to a part of our society who happens to find that council estates are where the end up living, and if we honestly intend to solve the "problem" of the "council estate issue", then you’re barking up the wrong tree.

As for not wanting you to have your say: You’ve got 9 out of 12 posts; so your statement is clearly utter bunk. You can say whatever you like – but don’t think for a moment that people can’t rightfully disagree with you. Disagreeing with you, or for that matter, making a statement as to why a councillor might IGNORE a LETTER written IN CAPS with BIZARRE PUNCTUATION’S isn’t stepping on your right to speak; it’s disagreeing with what you’re saying.
Comment by Gregory Block — 6 Sep 2004 on 9:53 am | Link
There is a generally accepted protocol for text messages on the internet. One of the rules is that capital letters are reserved for shouting.
A whole alphabet was constructed to prevent people getting the wrong end of the stick when communicating in text.

For example – "that’s what you call service" can be interpreted as a compliment or a rebuke.
To make it clear one would say "that’s what you call service :)" – with the smiley face or "that’s what you call service:( " with the sad face.
One can add noses 🙂 🙁 :>) open mouths :-0 winks 😉 and all sorts.
I only post this because I’m not sure if folk are trying to make emphases of if they really intend to shout at each other 😉
Comment by Roger Huffadine — 6 Sep 2004 on 12:38 pm | Link
It`s all a matter of interpretation.It is the accepted FACT that to use CAPITOL`S is to emphases a point (I thought everyone knew that).
Comment by george dutton — 6 Sep 2004 on 1:29 pm | Link
As for you Gregory I give up on you.You get PERSONAL when someone disagrees with you.Your use of certain word`s that should not be used on this site,children could read your post`s.Other`s I am sure find your language at time`s offensive.And as you keep telling people that virtually everyone on the planet think`s like you! well that about sum`s it all up!.You along with a FEW on this site cherry pick what someone say`s then have a go at them using what they have just said in the rest of there post.That Gregory is not rational (see above).What has the way I write got to do with anything!!!.I suppose you are the type of person that`s has a go at people with disabilitie`s as well.You MUST learn that other people have just the same right`s as you Gregory.If you don`t like my post`s DON`T READ THEM.
Comment by george dutton — 6 Sep 2004 on 1:49 pm | Link
– Use of capital letters has been used to indicate shouting since time immemorial. You are now using the internet; therefore, you must be prepared for others to interpret your actions in the environment in which they exist.

– Apostrophes are generally used to show posession, not plural. The plural of capital is capitals; capital’s says that the capital posesses the subject, in this case the fact. While you may indeed be saying that your facts belong to the capital letters, it is relatively obvious from the text you write that you mean something clearly different; your use of language does not support your intended message.

Hence, my initial point; my apologies if it came across so incredibly negatively; I do find you incredibly frustrating to read.

As for giving up on me; that’s fine. You consider any disagreement with your viewpoints to be a personal attack, when the great majority are not (I would say none, but I have done it twice now – once in jest, and once in frustration). My comment above practically spells out that most people equate inner-city violence and council flat yobism with the council flats, and not with people in poverty whose system has failed them; I thereby state that most people do *not* share my viewpoint, which I have also made clear in a myriad of other ways. I know full well that trying to sway people to my opinions on poverty, government, and the need for a strong socialist undercurrent in government action is all but impossible.

I don’t cherry pick your statements. I don’t respond to things because you write them, for the most part; generally because I disagree with what is being said, or I agree with what is being said. You may, however, rightfully say that I almost never agree with you. And just as you have a right to post what *I* think is a frightening, if not downright wrong viewpoint of the world, I have the right to do likewise.

Never have I told you not to post. Never have I told you what to say, or how to say it. Post all you like. Just don’t expect me to remain silent when you truck out another "Immigrants are evil", "Council flats are ruining our society", "The UK is too dependent on foreign food", or a bunch of other bizarre World War 1 era political arguments. As I’ve said before, and I’ll say again: Post what you like. My disagreement with you does not curb your liberty, nor does the existence of your post on a subject curb mine.
Comment by Gregory Block — 6 Sep 2004 on 2:55 pm | Link
Your at it AGAIN.I have NEVER said "Immigrant`s are evil" That Gregory is a downright LIE.I find your remark VERY OFFENSIVE. NEVER have I said "Council flat`s are ruining our society",only that too much of that type of building is bad for society and no place to bring up children.You make thing`s up to fit Gregory.
Comment by george dutton — 6 Sep 2004 on 3:49 pm | Link
As for using capital letter`s you are again WRONG it is to emphasise something alway`s has been.It may shock some to know that not everyone own`s a mobile phone (I don`t)or send`s text message`s!.
Comment by george dutton — 6 Sep 2004 on 4:06 pm | Link
This isn’t a mobile phone thing.
This is about ‘protocol’ – Its about the image that we each project when we communicate on the Internet.
Appearing to have an Internet version of Turret’s Syndrome is fine by me – but as in life one must live with the consequences.

Mobile text [TXT] messaging uses abbreviations because the text messages are encapsulated in blocks of 160 characters – so a whole new language has grown up. The Internet text protocol has been around much longer than that. Interestingly when Morse Code was in use for long distance communication an even more bizarre and Internationally standardised language emerged. This language of ‘Q’ codes enabled people to rapidly communicate without sending whole words and without the need for foreign language skills.

QTH as a question meant "where do you live?"
whilst
QRK means "what is the intelligibility of my signals?"

I know its just interesting [or not] irrelevancies but with nothing much else happening because most of our esteemed leaders have been on vacation I needed to keep my typing fingers working.
Comment by Roger Huffadine — 7 Sep 2004 on 10:01 am | Link
Thank you Roger.I found what you said very interesting.As for the use of capitol`s it has alway`s been used to highlight something.If as you say it is now used as some kind of written shouting,all I can say is I find that VERY SAD!.As for me I will not take part in it.Some people will no doubt think as you say.It is I think part a more endemic problem as we find more way`s NOT to communicate.I also find the use of BAD language to be part of this new internet language but I won`t take part in that EITHER.Thank`s for the offer though!.
Comment by george dutton — 7 Sep 2004 on 12:31 pm | Link
God, is it always like this? Doesn’t the My Society funding even stretch far enough to paying someone to make sure the comments aren’t full of irrelevant noise about Netiquette?

(On preview) I see you’re screening the comments from spam robots; what about protecting your credibility by enforcing some simple posting guidelines? What use is a community site where people who don’t know how to behave on the web (and won’t listen to polite explanations) are allowed to shout over the conversations?
Comment by Nic Dafis — 7 Sep 2004 on 2:53 pm | Link
Well why not SKIP those post`s or is that too hard!.
Comment by george dutton — 7 Sep 2004 on 4:05 pm | Link
After coming on to this site for some time now I think it would be a good idea if people did not come onto it under different names.This has happened a few times now that I can see.No doubt the people that run this site must know each indivdually users ip number?.
Comment by Ivenhoe — 7 Sep 2004 on 4:37 pm | Link
Assuming that you’re right, what difference does it make? This is a public forum – where anyone can come and say what they want. It’s the same as on TV – if you don’t like what’s on, switch over; or off. It shouldn’t matter WHO says something, but what they say.
Comment by PapaLazzzaru — 7 Sep 2004 on 4:53 pm | Link
I AGREE totally with you Papa.
Comment by george dutton — 7 Sep 2004 on 7:10 pm | Link
It also does not matter how they say it.It`s called democracy.A few on this site should look that word up as they don`t know what it mean`s.There again people that come onto this site know,people know, so really they defeat themselves by attacking other`s who try to have there say.But that`s the way there are,what can you do!.Still there again they don`t know ME.I feel sorry for other`s that might be put off from coming on and contributing to this site.
Comment by george dutton — 7 Sep 2004 on 7:33 pm | Link
Hello there,
We’ve been watching this thread for a while, and we’ve decided it is time to step in and say a couple of things.

First, we do consider capitals as shouting, so please don’t use them.

Second, please refrain from posting many comments in a row. If you’ve lots to say, put it all in one post, but remember, the shorter your comment is the more readable it is to most other people!

Now, we’re not going to do anything else at the moment, but if necessary we can close this thread, and/or implement a system whereby people can’t post more than two comments in a row from one IP. However, because you’re all a civilised bunch, we’re hoping that this will be sufficient.

Glad you are still enjoying the site!

mySociety
Comment by mySociety Admin — 8 Sep 2004 on 10:05 am | Link
ASBOs certainly are not the way to solve youth crime. Stuff to do has got to be in place, not just in the big cities, but also in the smaller surrounding villages, or proper, affordable public transport needs to be in place so youngesters can get to the activities on offer.

Looking at today’s BBC news, there is a story about the government wanting to open up primary schools until 6pm to provide welfare/childcare facilities. Something needs to be provided at Secondary level, but this needs to avoid the stigma of it being geeky or "more school" which would just put people off taking part.

Finally…
If you want to emphasise something, surrounding it with *s is the best way to go about it on the internet (old word processing markup code, * for bold, _ for underline and / for italics). Capitals are interpreted as shouting.

Good punctuation and grammer also really helps get your argument across – use of shouting coupled with poor grammer and punctuation is considered the signs of l-userdom.

Alex
x x
Comment by penwing — 8 Sep 2004 on 10:33 am | Link
It s a shame I enjoyed coming on this site.I must be out of my time I think old age come`s to us all.Bye Papa I enjoyed really ENJOYED our debate`s.
Comment by george dutton — 8 Sep 2004 on 10:41 pm | Link
By George
Comment by Colonel Mad — 8 Sep 2004 on 11:04 pm | Link
That was an amusing lunchtime read. Pity about old George leaving though, he was clearly the life of the PARTY!

The reason I chanced upon this site is I’m having trouble with a gang of youths in my neighborhood and am unsure how to proceed. It escalated last night with one of them threatening to ”Shank” me when I walked past them.

I’m 31 years old being threatened by a group of kids about 16 years old. They have a free reign in the neighborhood and are obviously bored and can’t wait to be full grown gangsters. I’m a bit worried about becoming one of those statistics you read about.

Some say I need to call the police- but they haven’t committed a witnessed crime and this will surely make me their enemy. Other advice is that I should try my best to stay neutral and ignore it. It might just be a phase they’re going through.

What say you?
Comment by Jonno — 13 Dec 2006 on 1:42 pm | Link
Find a new neighbourhood, Jonno, it’s never gonna get any better. The police and the government of this country have no interest in democracy, no interest in improving society, and no interest in YOU! In short, if you were killed tomorrow, no-one but your immediate family would miss you, and not a thing would change. Don’t waste your time and your energy. Get out and let someone else deal with it. Get cynical (it’s a cynical world!), and stay alive.
Comment by SmokeNMirrors — 13 Dec 2006 on 3:07 pm | Link
Looking at today’s BBC news, there is a story about the government wanting to open up primary schools until 6pm to provide welfare/childcare facilities. Something needs to be provided at Secondary level, but this needs to avoid the stigma of it being geeky or "more school" which would just put people off taking part.
Comment by Chris Tacker — 18 Dec 2006 on 12:54 pm | Link
we’re not going to do anything else at the moment, but if necessary we can close this thread, and/or implement a system whereby people can’t post more than two comments in a row from one IP. However, because you’re all a civilised bunch, we’re hoping that this will be sufficient.
Comment by Jeremy Cooper — 20 Dec 2006 on 3:06 pm | Link
we’re not going to do anything else at the moment, but if necessary we can close this thread, and/or implement a system whereby people can’t post more than two comments in a row from one IP. However, because you’re all a civilised bunch, we’re hoping that this will be sufficient.
Comment by Jeremy Cooper — 20 Dec 2006 on 3:07 pm | Link
we’re not going to do anything else at the moment, but if necessary we can close this thread, and/or implement a system whereby people can’t post more than two comments in a row from one IP. However, because you’re all a civilised bunch, we’re hoping that this will be sufficient.
Comment by Jeremy Cooper — 20 Dec 2006 on 3:07 pm | Link

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