Don't scrap the ASBO says MP

SWIFT action is needed to tackle the serious problem of anti-social behaviour in Warrington, an MP believes.
The Government will be turning back the clock if it goes ahead with plans to scrap the ASBO – Anti-Social Behaviour Order – and replace it with a weaker measure which carries no criminal sanction for a breach, says Warrington North MP Helen Jones (pictured).
She is urging the government not to scrap the ASBO and to speed up action to tackle the problem.
A detailed breakdown by statisticians from the House of Commons Library has revealed new figures which show in Warrington that there were 9,242 anti-social behaviour incidents recorded by the police last year.
This means on average there were 45.7 anti-social behaviour incidents per 1,000 people in Warrington.
Ms Jones said: “Anti-social behaviour is a serious problem. The Government’s official crime survey has revealed that more than eight out of 10 people believe anti-social behaviour has risen in England and Wales in the last 12 months and nearly a third said that they had personally been a victim of yobbish behaviour or had witnessed an event in the last 12 months.
“The Government is turning the clock back with their plans to scrap the ASBO and replace it with a weaker power which carries no criminal sanction for a breach.
“The Government’s community trigger, which demands a response if a person has complained three times just isn’t good enough. People have the right to expect action right away and help to tackle an issue which is a huge worry.
“It’s clear we have a problem with anti-social behaviour but I am pleased that the police are taking pro-active action to tackle this. If the government scrap the ASBO, police forces up and down the country will have to bear the burden but ultimately it is communities that pay the price for anti-social behaviour”