Thugs being handed ASBOs rather than jail sentences

Feb 4 2010 by Martin Williams, North Wales Weekly News

THUGS threatening violence and carrying weapons are being handed Anti Social Behaviour Orders rather than prison sentences.

More than 300 ASBOs have been issued in North Wales for offences ranging from harassment, intimidation, trespassing, breaking into homes and cars, abuse, and carrying a weapon to noise pollution, in the last four years.

Politicians and lawyers have called for harsher punishments, saying ASBOs are not helping reduce crime, and while police are doing a good job catching criminals, stricter penalties and rehabilitation are needed.

A total of 253 ASBOs were dished out by North Wales magistrates courts over the last four years.

But the numbers have recently dropped, with just 24 handed out in 2009, 59 in 2008, 100 in 2007, 26 in 2006 and 19 in 2005.

The orders have banned persistent offenders from villages, pubs, play areas, caravan parks, public toilets, shops, leisure centres, schools and hospitals, while others were put on a curfew.

Local councils in the area issued 61 ASBOs over the same period. Conwy issued 59, compared to just two in Wrexham and none in other counties.

ASBOs were introduced under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and are intended to be binding contracts between people who’ve committed anti-social acts, and the police.

Aberconwy AM Gareth Jones suggested rehabilitation and more support for victims of “thuggery”.

“These are serious offences and one would question whether an ASBO is the appropriate punishment,” he said.

“The nature of these offences would suggest a serious need for effective rehabilitation treatment in some individual cases, rather than telling them to do this or that and keep away from a certain area.”