A pledge by the Home Secretary to make it easier for police officers to deal with anti-social behaviour in communities has been welcomed by ACPO.

ACC Simon Edens, the Association’s Lead on ASB, said he was looking forward to engaging in a wider debate on the issues, adding that he would await further detail on the proposals.

“At ACPO we have been working with the Home Office and others on how best to tackle anti-social behaviour and have given our professional view that any approach must recognise the harm that it causes,” he stressed.
¬Labour introduced a ludicrous list of powers for tackling anti-social behaviour – the ISO, the ASBI, the ASBO and the CRASBO¬
“We have been clear that we will support a simplification of the tools and powers available to frontline practitioners, making it easier for them to do what works best.”

He added: “We recognise that anti-social behaviour cannot be solved by public services alone – police and partners have a role in supporting communities develop they own capabilities, including enhancing the public’s ability to appropriately intervene without putting themselves at risk.”

ACC Edens was speaking after a speech by Home Secretary Theresa May, in which she outlined the need to give officers greater discretion and simplify punitive measures relating to ASB to “move beyond the ASBO”.

The policing changes form part of a wide spectrum of measures to deal with the problem, including a significant overhaul of the current licensing laws.

The Home Secretary added: “Labour introduced a ludicrous list of powers for tackling anti-social behaviour – the ISO, the ASBI, the ASBO and the CRASBO.

“These sanctions were complex and bureaucratic, there were too many of them, they were too time consuming and expensive and they often criminalised young people unnecessarily, acting as a conveyor belt to crime and prison.

“That is why I have launched a review of the anti-social behaviour powers available to police. I am determined to give them and other agencies a toolkit that is appropriate and effective – it is time to move beyond the ASBO.”

Ms May also believed that placing less emphasis on a target culture, and giving officers the discretion to deal with problems in communities is also vital.

She said: “We want to ensure police officers have the discretion to deal with anti-social behaviour in the way they think will be most effective, both in meeting the needs of the victim and community and changing the behaviour in question.

“Where an officer believes it would be better for a less serious wrong to be fixed with a more appropriate right – to repair the damage that has been caused or carry out a community activity, we say to the police ‘use your judgement’”.