Crime Reduction - Helping to Reduce Crime in Your Area

Tool/Intervention

2003/4

2004/5

2005/6

Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs)*
An anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) is a civil order which protects the community from behaviour that causes harassment, alarm or distress. Local authorities, police and housing associations can apply to the court for an ASBO. The perpetrator does not receive a criminal record but breach of the order is a criminal offence.

* This ASBO data is from court returns rather than the CDRP survey and refers to the calendar years 2003, 2004, & 2005. 

Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs)
Acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs) are written contracts made between the local authority, police, youth offending team and others and the individual. ABCs are not statutory tools but are voluntary arrangements. The ABC normally sets out the behaviour expected by the person, the action that will be taken by services, and the consequences of breaking the agreement

Parenting Contracts
Like ABCs, parenting contracts have evolved as non-statutory flexible tools between an agency and the parents or carers of a child or young person causing concern. They provide a major opportunity to help parents deal with the problem behaviour of their children. The Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 puts parenting contracts on a statutory footing and provides opportunities for schools and YOTs, to enter into a parenting contract with parents in certain circumstances. They can be used alongside other interventions and set out what parents will do to address the anti-social behaviour of a child or children for whom they are responsible.

Parenting Orders
Where a parent is unwilling or reluctant to co-operate with a voluntary parenting contract, YOTs and local education authorities can apply for parenting orders. They should also be issued alongside ASBOs where a child is under 16 and where a child is convicted of a criminal offence. In 2007, local authorities will be able to widen the circumstances where parenting orders can be sought.

Anti-social behaviour staff in post
Anti-social behaviour staff are key in delivering an effective strategy to tackle anti-social behaviour. Many areas now have dedicated multi-agency anti-social behaviour teams and every local authority in the country receives funding to support an anti-social behaviour coordinator post.

Eviction for anti-social behaviour
Tenants of social landlords can be evicted where they have been involved in persistent anti-social behaviour to the detriment of other residents. Eviction should be a last resort but there will be occasions where it is necessary, for example where the needs of the community warrant it and where other action has not been effective.