29 October 2004
Home Secretary David Blunkett continued his law and order crackdown this week, setting out plans to tackle antisocial behaviour across 50 areas blighted by louts and thugs.
The Home Office published One year on, a report assessing the impact of Labour's flagship antisocial behaviour policies – including the controversial antisocial behaviour orders (Asbos) – on October 28.
Alongside the report's publication, Blunkett was expected to announce up to 50 'action areas' to target offences such as thuggery and drunkenness, as well as nuisance neighbours.
Ten 'trailblazer' pilot areas have already received additional financial support from the Home Office's Antisocial Behaviour Unit. Prior to the announcement, a Home Office spokesman told Public Finance the 'action areas' would operate in a similar way.
But the areas involved face significant challenges. On October 26, Home Office minister Hazel Blears revealed that a third of all Asbos are breached.
According to the Home Office, 305 out of 855 Asbos issued in England between June 2000 and December 2002 were flouted, although authorities were quick to punish offenders: 152 individuals were given custodial sentences and 93 received community sentences.
The use of Asbos, Blears said, had 'massively increased' over the past year and ministers expect further rises next year.
One year on states that antisocial behaviour policies 'are starting to bite'. Asbos, acceptable behaviour contracts, dispersal orders and fixed penalty notices 'are being used by communities to fight back against drunk and disorderly behaviour, nightmare neighbours, crack houses, intimidation by groups of youths, misuse of fireworks and other thuggery and disorder,' the Home Office said.
More than 400 dispersal orders, which came into force in January, have been issued to prevent gangs of youths from intimidating local residents, for example.
But, speaking on October 26, Prime Minister Tony Blair warned that 'crime and the fear of crime still cast a shadow over far too many lives'. He promised further initiatives in the Queen's Speech next month.
PFoct2004
