This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Progress on tackling antisocial behaviour
27/10/2005
There has been a 42 per cent increase in the number of Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) granted across Scotland.
Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry said that this shows more communities are seeing action to tackle this problem.
There were 210 ASBOs granted in 2004-05, the highest number since they were introduced in 1999 and a 42 per cent increase on 2003-04. The news comes on the eve of the first anniversary of the first measures from the Antisocial Behaviour (Scotland) Act coming into force.
Mr Henry said that encouraging progress in the first year must now be accelerated across the country if all communities are to get the protection they need and the safety they deserve.
Mr Henry said:
"As recorded crimes statistics published earlier this week confirmed, commmunities are clearly still plagued by vandalism and other persistent forms of antisocial behaviour. No-one should under-estimate the debilitating impact that antisocial crimes have on communities - and that is why it is important that our councils and police have the powers to deal with such behaviour effectively.
"We have put new laws and resources in place to ensure that everyone now has someone to turn to for help. The ongoing task for local agencies is to make sure they respond effectively to meet these local needs and bring ordinary, hard-working people some peace.
"New measures have made a difference. The first closure order saw a Fife pensioner freed from years of misery from a nuisance neighbour. The first use of the dispersal powers saw Grampian Police break up groups of people whose behaviour had been a persistent source of annoyance to ordinary members of the public around the Beach Boulevard in Aberdeen. The use of Fixed Penalty Notices are being piloted in Tayside for a range of nuisance offences like vandalism and breach of the peace.
"New figures show that the number of ASBOs granted in Scotland rose to 210 in 2004/05 - each one offering the chance of respite to suffering communities. Some are now considering their use for young people under-16. No authority takes the decision to seek an ASBO for a young person lightly. However, it is encouraging that we are seeing more local agencies in more parts of the country being prepared to use the full range of powers available to them.
"Antisocial behaviour is a real problem - but my message to hard-working people across the country is a positive one. Antisocial behaviour need not be tolerated. The law is on your side. The Executive is on your side.
"In the next few weeks we will publish a formal report on the first year of the ASB Act. That report will show progress made and point the way forward. Together with the support of hard-working people and the commitment of police and local authorities we can help deliver a safer, stronger Scotland."
ASBOs were introduced in 1999. Numbers granted in previous financial years were:
1999-00 - 26
2000-01 - 57
2001-02 - 68
2002-03 - 75
2003-04 - 148
The Antisocial Behaviour Bill received Royal Assent on July 26, 2004. The first measures took effect from October 28, 2004 with most of the remaining measures in place by April 2005.
Those measures which are now a year old are:
- Requirement for antisocial behaviour strategies - local authorities and the police are required to prepare joint strategies setting out an assessment of the type and occurrences of antisocial behaviour and the services to prevent and deal with that behaviour
- ASBOs for under 16s - extending to 12-15 year olds the existing provision for issuing ASBOs. Intended for a small minority of children for whom Children's Panel intervention has not proved effective
- Dispersal of groups - provision for reasonable, balanced and targeted police power to tackle a real and serious problem in communities
- Closure of premises - new power targeting those premises at the centre of acute antisocial behaviour, eg drinking or drug dens
- Environmental offences - gives police the power to issue fixed penalty notices for litter, new powers for Ministers to issue directions in relation to clearance of litter and increased penalties for a range of antisocial environmental offences.