SCOTLAND

Issuing anti-social orders

It may be a flagship policy, it may even be a good idea, but, unless it is used, it is nothing more than a piece of paper. The Scottish Executive's anti-social behaviour act was meant to help rebuild communities by providing more effective methods of tackling relatively minor but nevertheless destructive offences such as vandalism, drinking in public, and breach of the peace. In June 2003, Jack McConnell promised that the executive would make sure councils, the police, and communities used the forthcoming anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) "so that people can once again reclaim pride in their environment". He is having difficulty keeping that promise. Half of Scotland's councils had six or fewer ASBOs in force between December 1999, when they were created, and March 2004. Councils deemed to be among those suffering most from youth crime, such as Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire, were granted markedly fewer orders than elsewhere in Scotland, while none at all were granted in either Inverclyde or East Dunbartonshire.

It is a tricky dilemma for the first minister. The anti-social behaviour act must be seen to be working if he is to retain his credibility. Unless he can get all of Scotland's councils onside, it never will. Although councils such as North Lanarkshire, Edinburgh and Fife have all made use of ASBOs and believe they are effective tools for improving life for law-abiding citizens, others have warned that the government also has a duty to those help youths deemed as troublesome. They are rightly concerned that the orders stigmatise young people, who face a custodial sentence if they breach them. ASBOs could all too easily become the first step on a downward spiral of criminality for these youngsters. Glasgow City Council claims intervention to prevent youth crime before it happens is far more important than the success or failure of the first minister's anti-social behaviour act. It has a point, yet it is all too obvious that prevention does not always work. In that case, ASBOs can be a useful tool for councils and the police, but only if accompanied by sound policies for helping offenders alter their behaviour. Mr McConnell must do more to ensure councils have the resources and support necessary to put these in place. He should listen to the verdict of so many of Scotland's councils: they have the power to bury this policy through inaction unless they are persuaded it is worth implementing.

8 November 2004
http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/27523-print.shtml
 

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