Caroline Flint attacks ASBO shake-up

NEW measures to tackle anti-social behaviour have been branded “weak” and “disgraceful” by Don Valley MP Caroline Flint.

The criticism followed yesterday’s announcement from Home Secretary Theresa May

that the Government plans to scrap ASBOs and replace them with new orders.

The White Paper proposals claim to “put victims first” and reduce the existing 19 powers and down to six.

But the shake-up has been met with mixed feelings including a scathing response from Caroline Flint who dismissed the measures as a “weak rebrand.”

She said: “The Government’s announcement did not make clear that they are weakening the police powers against anti-social behaviour.

“It is simply disgraceful that if someone breaches one of the new orders, they do not even get a criminal record.

“Almost half of those who breached ASBOs went to jail, which is exactly what they deserved.”

Among the new proposals is a "community trigger" which forces the police, councils and other agencies to act if five households complain, or if the same individual complains three times.

They will also introduce a crime prevention injunction, allowing agencies to protect victims from hooligans and vandals at short notice.

A criminal behaviour order will also be brought in to stop convicted criminals from engaging in particular activities or going to certain places.

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The measures also aim to speed up process to evict anti-social tenants and to deal with irresponsible dog owners.

But Ms Flint warned that the new proposals were confusing and would slow down the justice system.

“Don Valley residents will be bemused at the idea that it will take three separate complaints from someone, or a complaint from five different households to get a guaranteed response,” she said.

“This isn’t a trigger, it’s a millstone around the neck of communities that want a swift response against incidents or unruly households in their neighbourhood.”

Edlington and Warmsworth Councillor Elsie Butler added: “My ward has had a number of ASBOs and each one has been a small victory for the community.

“Last week, Doncaster police were on the streets of London marching against the 20 per cent cut in policing, and now our local police face even weaker powers.

“This Government is just not committed to fighting crime.”

ASBOs were introduced by the Labour Party under Tony Blair in 1998 in a bid to control low-level behaviour that would not automatically warrant criminal prosecution.

The system has attracted controversy with claims that people were seeking an ASBO as a “badge of honour.”

The Home Secretary has rebutted the uproar over the plans and maintained that the new system would make an improvement.

“We will make powers simpler, quicker, easier to enforce, more flexible and more effective,” she said.

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