§ Dr. StoateTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures she is taking to speed up the anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) application process; what proportion of ASBO cases in(a) 2001 and (b) 2002 required (i) one court hearing, (ii) two court hearings and (iii) three or more court hearings to reach a decision; and what steps she is taking to reduce the number of court hearings required in ASBO cases. [105371]
§ Yvette CooperChanges to ASBOs, which help speed up the application process, were made under the Police Reform Act 2002. These were accompanied by guidance to all practitioners and the courts. This advises specifically that adjournments should he avoided unless 337W absolutely necessary; and that in order to minimise delays, courts should be forewarned of applications. Courts are being encouraged to consider rigorously requests for adjournments (whilst always acting in the interests of justice), and to use pre-trial reviews in appropriate cases. Figures were only collected for the first time in 2001 and the figures for 2001 are incomplete. In 2001, for 32 per cent. of ASB0 cases it was not known how many hearings they took. 10.5 per cent of ASBO cases were recorded as requiring one court hearing; 15.0 per cent. two court hearings; and 42.5 per cent three or more court hearings in order to determine the application. Up to 30 September 2002, the corresponding figures are 2.25 per cent. not known, 16.25 per cent. for one hearing, 22.50 per cent. for two hearings; and 59.0 per cent. for three or more court hearings.
As set out in the recent White Paper on anti-social behaviour—"Respect and Responsibility" we are taking steps in the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill to improve further the operation of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders which remain a valuable tool in tackling anti-social behaviour. For instance. Housing Actions Trusts will be able to apply for ASBOs to protect persons who reside in or are in the vicinity of their premises, instead of having to rely on other authorities to seek ASBOs on their behalf. It will also be possible for relevant persons to be joined to proceedings in the County Court with a view to obtaining an ASBO against them where their anti-social behaviour is material to these proceedings. This would enable courts to make more effective use of time by removing the need for a separate hearing for an ASBO.