The use of anti-social behaviour orders across London

Report: 5
Date: 1 November 2007
By: Assistant Commissioner Territorial Policing

Summary

This report outlines the current situation in relation to the use of and forthcoming collection of ASBO data as a priority by the newly formed ASB and Respect Board in relation to the continued use of Anti Social Behaviour Orders ( ASBO) by the Metropolitan Police and its partners.

A. Recommendations

That Members are asked to note the contents of this report.

B. Supporting information

The Development of recording Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs):

• 1.  The monitoring and use of ASBOs has been debated for a considerable time and this has previously been reported to the MPA on 1 February 2007.
• 2.  The Government Office for London was given responsibility for the collection and monitoring of an ASBO register for London and this was detailed in the Pan-London ASB Strategy but not carried through. Therefore, although work was started at GOL there are currently no total regional figures on ASBOs issued by different agencies.
• 3.  While some organisations (e.g. British Transport Police) share sanitised information on the number and nature of ASBOs they issue, there is a need for one standardised London database. This would allow more comprehensive analysis of individual's demographics, type and location of offence, and length and conditions of ASBO, both for strategic purposes and for equalities impact assessment. The Home Office do have London ASBO data, which is collected from the Court Services, although it is thought to be both limited in detail and out of date.
• 4.  The need for a pan London, inter agency record has been identified through the recently agreed ASB and Respect Board Action Plan. This will consider how an ASBO Register – holding details of all ASBOs in London - can most effectively be delivered and made available to all interested parties. Together with recipients’ ethnicity, it should hold details of age and gender and the reason for the ASBO. As conditions attached to ASBOs can be general rather than place specific, boroughs need to have access to information on what they impose. The purpose of such a database would assist the MPS and its partner agencies to analyse in what circumstances ASBOs are most effective and also when their use could be detrimental with certain types of individuals or specific types of crime.
• 5.  ASBOs continue to be effectively used across London, although inconsistencies in sentencing for breaches continue to undermine their use. The Sentencing Advisory Panel has been asked by the Sentencing Guidelines Council to produce advice on sentencing for breaches of Anti-social Behaviour Orders. The number of ASBOs has increased considerably since the order first became available in 1999. The courts now regularly face the task of sentencing an offender for breach, and guidelines are needed to ensure that the approach is proportionate and consistent.
• 6. Organisationally, the MPS monitors the use of ASBOs through Safer Neighbourhood Teams who continue to document their involvement as part of the EPIC performance data. Recent figures show that between April and September 2007, Safer Neighbourhood Teams obtained 326 ASBOs in London. During the same period the number of Acceptable Behaviour Contracts completed by Safer Neighbourhood Teams has increased from 1315 to 1322. Letters have also increased from 7928 to 8271, an increase of 343 and home visits have also increased from 3520 to 4349, an increase of 829. This shows that teams prioritise early intervention over enforcement measures.

C. Race and equality impact

In consideration of the Race and Equality Impact Assessment of this work it has been acknowledged that data capture systems are currently insufficiently robust to monitor these issues in a reliable and timely manner. This will be dealt with through consideration of the work, highlighted above, to improve the consistency and quality of data relating to ASBOs.

D. Financial implications

Current activity is undertaken as part of mainstream business and has no additional resource requirements at this time. Any additional work generated through the ASB and Respect Board will be dealt with within existing budgets or, if necessary, will be supported by separate resource bids.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Chief Superintendent Stephen Bloomfield, MPS.

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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