Rotherham cop: 'Don't ditch ASBOs'

The Government has threatened to axe anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) after criticising the use of “gimmick” orders to battle nuisance youths.

But Pc Perry Mangles, who has successfully applied for numerous ASBOs, said that although young people “pushed boundaries” when it came to the orders to ASBOs, they still did a useful job.

His comments come after Home Secretary Theresa May blasted Labour for burdening police with a “ludicrous list of powers.” 

Pc Mangles said although some ASBOs dished out “defy logic”, he maintained that in Rotherham they were used as a last resort.

He added the orders were not the only solution to nuisance behaviour but insisted that they should not be abolished.

“We are not just about ASBOs, we are about tackling anti-social behaviour full stop, it's just one tool that we use,” he said.

“But personally I would be sad to see them scrapped because the system has been working in Rotherham.”

Between June 2000 and December 2008, more than half the 17,000 ASBOs handed out in the UK had been breached but Pc Mangles said that this was partly down youngsters showing off.

He said: “I know there's a lot of criticism about people breaching their orders.

“The worst case scenario that Rotherham has ever had is someone breaking an order six times, but that was over a two-year period.

“The majority of people who do this are youngsters and like to push the boundaries.”