HC Deb 17 December 2001 vol 377 cc75-6W
13. Mr. Gordon Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to(a) assess and (b) publish the variation in applying for antisocial behaviour orders between different police forces. [21156]

Mr. Denham

Figures to 30 September this year show that 466 Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) have been issued. I am placing a copy of the force by force breakdown in the Library. I am pleased to say that 16 Antisocial Behaviour Orders have been issued to Lancashire Constabulary.

There are areas of good practice throughout England and Wales, but we are not complacent about the position. The White Paper on police reform, published on 5 December, makes it clear that the Government are seeking still more effective use of Antisocial Behaviour Orders.

Vernon Coaker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the measures he has taken to encourage parents to take greater responsibility for the anti-social behaviour of their children. [21164]

Mr. Denham

We introduced the parenting order on 1 June 2000, and its progress is promising. We are also launching youth offender panels, linked to referral orders which have a key role for parents. We are taking a number of wider steps to support families and assist parenting.

The White Paper on policing set out steps to encourage the use of Antisocial Behaviour Orders and Acceptable Behaviour Contracts.

23. Mr. Simon Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the number of antisocial behaviour orders made in the last year in(a) Dyfed Powys and (b) Wales. [21127]

Mr. Denham

For the period 1 June 2000 to 30 September 2001, there were no Antisocial Behaviour Orders made in Dfyed-Powys. There were four made in total in Wales. Much more use has been made of Antisocial Behaviour Orders in other areas, a total of 466 in England and Wales.

25. Hugh Bayley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many magistrates courts have used antisocial behaviour orders. [21129]

Mr. Denham

We now have information relating to the use of Antisocial Behaviour Orders in all magistrate court committee areas. I have placed the breakdown in the Library of the House: it shows that Orders are being used in 38 of the 42 Magistrates Court Committee Areas. As I said in response to a Question earlier from my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool South (Mr. Marsden), the White Paper "Policing a New Millennium" makes clear that we intend to take action to promote their use still more widely.

36. Mr. Pond

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to tackle persistent youth disorder. [21140]

Mr. Denham

The Government have introduced a range of measures to tackle disorder and antisocial behaviour. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 introduced crime and disorder partnerships, anti-social behaviour orders, child curfews and changes to the youth justice system. We have also introduced new community sentences for youth offenders including reparation orders, final warnings, child safety orders and parenting orders.

The White Paper "Policing the Next Century" proposes: A new capacity for support staff to contribute to community safety in public places; A much greater organised presence of other agencies accredited by the police; New powers available to enable accredited organisations to tackle lower level antisocial behaviour; and Firmer action on antisocial behaviour.