ASBOs - going without lamentation

The end may be sight for ASBOs, the "penalty" imposed on young people after being found guilty of anti-social behaviour.

Fewer orders are being issued - 2005 - 4,122, 2006 - 2,705, 2007 - 2,299. This is almost certainly not because young people are behaving more responsibly. It may indicate a loss of confidence in them by legal and law enforcement agencies.

In some cases offenders are waiting up to two years to be served with the orders, as police and administration grinds on. In the meantime, behaviour is unlikely to be restrained.

Those who who do receive orders are increasingly breaking the orders. In some parts of the country it is as much as 8 out of 10 offenders, and on average across the whole country each offender breaks his order four times. Between 2006 and 2007 the proportion of adults breaking orders rose from 50% to 54%, and of juveniles from 61% to 64%.

In the early years the comment was made that some juvenile offenders even saw the orders as "badges of honour", conferring street credibility and approval among peers.