Criminal Justice Order
Publication Date: 21 December 2005 (Archive)
NIACRO, in its response to the consultation on the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2005, concentrated on the aspects which affect children and young people. One of these is the proposal to allow the Secretary of State to extend the list of bodies which can apply for an anti-social behaviour order, the controversial ASBO. Alongside detailed comments on specific aspects of the consultation, NIACRO repeated its general concerns about ASBOs.
NIACRO, along with partners in the youth justice system, has had grave concerns about the introduction of ASBOs all along. There's no doubt that they are politically "crowd-pleasing" - the public, exasperated by what they see as a decline in young people's behaviour, were likely to approve the idea of anti-social behaviour being stopped in its tracks.
But will it work? There has been little or no research into whether or not ASBOs change people's behaviour for the better. It is depressing to read that the Home Affairs Committee recently concluded that "naming and shaming" is essential to enforce an ASBO. Instead, it reinforces people's anxieties and stigmatises the young person. At worst, it may even become a badge of honour.
So NIACRO does not believe that ASBOs are an effective way of dealing with anti-social behaviour. And, frustratingly, there are other initiatives which take a totally different approach and are far more likely to change anti-social behaviour - like our own mentoring scheme, "diversionary" projects, restorative justice, working with families. Support and the reinforcement of positive behaviour have a track record of success. ASBOs don't.
You can get a copy of our response to the consultation, and of an article in an earlier NIACRO News where we spelled out our objections to ASBOs in more detail, from the Information Unit.