§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, after consultation with relevant persons and groups, they will issue guidance on applying for anti-social behaviour orders in respect of certain types of person, with particular reference to pimps, kerb crawlers and prostitutes. [HL1478]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalAnti-social behaviour orders are civil orders that exist to protect the public from behaviour that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. Detailed guidance was issued in 2002 and we have no intention of issuing guidance on applying anti-social behaviour orders in respect of pimps, kerb crawlers and prostitutes.
ASBOs have been used in a number of local areas to protect communities from the harassment, alarm and distress caused by kerb crawlers and those involved in prostitution. These orders have proved to be most effective when used alongside other measures to tackle the problem.
Under the Police Reform Act 2002 an order can be made in addition to sentence where someone is convicted of a criminal offence. The advantage of an ASBO is that it encompasses the totality of the person's anti-social behaviour rather than dealing with each criminal offence in isolation. The order also addresses the impact of the behaviour on other people and its primary purpose is to protect them from further anti-social behaviour.