EUKN - United Kingdom - A guide to anti-social behaviour orders

A guide to anti-social behaviour orders - UK

Introduction

Provides guidance on anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) aimed at people with a professional responsibility for tackling anti-social behaviour.

Description

Anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) were introduced by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 in England and Wales. They are civil orders to protect the public from behaviour that causes harassment, alarm or distress. They contain conditions prohibiting the offender from carrying out specific anti-social acts or from entering defined areas and are effective for a minimum of two years. They are not criminal sanctions and are not intended to punish the offender.

Applications for ASBOs are made to the court by ‘relevant authorities’ which include local authorities, chief officers of police, housing associations, etc.

The document sets out information such as:

the sort of behaviour that can be tackled;
the legal definition of anti-social behaviour;
and the standard of proof.

It presents guidance on:

taking a strategic approach;
managing the application process;
time limits;
the use of witness evidence;
information sharing;
the terms of the order;
children and young people;
immediate post-order procedure;
appeals;
breaches;
variation and discharge of an order;
monitoring and recording;
and promoting awareness of orders.

Includes appendices on:

early intervention and tackling offending behaviour by under-10s;
the process for anti-social behaviour orders and orders on conviction;
and public funding for defendants.

Contact info

Home Office
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7035 4848
together@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Publication date

01/08/2006

Links

Home Office / DCLG - Together website Department for Communities and Local Government website Home Office website

A guide to anti-social behaviour orders (PDF, Eng, 1.3 MB)

Document type

policy

Themes

Urban Policy > Security & crime prevention > Anti-crime policy

Keywords

Anti-social behaviour & vandalism