Reflections on ASBOs as Social Aegis

Abstract

It is only a short time ago that commentators had begun to observe what they saw as ‘the end of the Respect Agenda’ and the relegation of anti-social behaviour as a political priority. The Respect Task Force had been disbanded, and responsibility for anti-social behaviour policy had been split between the Home Office and the new Department for Children, Schools and Families (DfCSF). The numbers of ASBOs issued had significantly declined between 2005 and 2006, and it appeared that anti-social behaviour policy was essentially being politically sidelined. However, as we have seen, the government has recently announced a ‘new drive’ on anti-social behaviour, and a package of additional measures designed to make the ASBO process ‘more efficient’. Although research has been limited, there is also evidence that when ASBOs (and other anti-social behaviour interventions) are being used, they are effective at deterring further anti-social conduct (Home Office, 2008; NAO, 2006).KeywordsSocial BehaviourCriminal JusticeSocial HousingCrime ControlCriminal StatusThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.