Youth Justice News
| Author | Tim Bateman |
| Published date | 01 December 2009 |
| Date | 01 December 2009 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/1473225409348407 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
YOUTH JUSTICE NEWS
© The Author(s), 2009. Reprints and permissions:
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Published by SAGE Publications
(Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore and Washington DC)
www.sagepublications.com
ISSN 1473–2254, Vol 9(3): 295–303
DOI: 10.1177/1473225409348407
Youth Justice News
Compiled by Tim Bateman
Correspondence: Tim Bateman, Nacro, Youth Crime Section, Park Place, 10–12 Lawn
Lane, London SW8 1UD, UK. Email: tim.bateman@nacro.org.uk
Use of ASBOs for Children in England and Wales Falls as ABCs Rise
Latest fi gures released by the Home Offi ce show that after year-on-year increases to December
2005, the number of anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) imposed on young people aged 10–17
years fell during both 2006 and 2007 as indicated in Table 1. The number of orders made
in the latter year was 42 per cent lower than during 2005. The use of ASBOs for adults also
declined over the same period to a similar extent.
The use of ASBOs still displays substantial geographic variation. Thus, during 2007, four
of the 42 police service areas (West Yorkshire, Greater London, Greater Manchester and West
Mercia) each made more than 50 orders on children below the age of 18 years, accounting
for 38 per cent of the total. Conversely, in twelve areas, fewer than ten ASBOs were imposed
accounting for less than seven per cent of all orders during the year.
The reasons for the falling use of ASBOs have yet to be investigated but it seems likely
that at least two factors are relevant. On the one hand, there has been a substantial growth
in the use of non statutory acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs), which do not require an
application to the court. According to an answer to a parliamentary question given by Alan
Campbell, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Home Offi ce, on 29 June 2009, more
than 30,000 ABCs were issued between October 2003 and September 2007, including 2958
in Greater London alone.
Table 1. Number of ASBOs imposed by age June 2000 to December 2007
Period Orders imposed on children
aged 10–17
Orders imposed on adults
aged 18 and above
June 2000 – Dec 2000 62 64
2001 193 151
2002 251 170
2003 628 713
2004 1340 2086
2005 1581 2469
2006 1053 1625
2007 920 1362
Total 6028 8640
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