§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the average cost of obtaining an antisocial behaviour order is; [1255]
Antisocial behaviour orders applied for and made between 1 April 1999 and 31 March 2001 by police force area within England and Wales Police force area Number of applications to 31 March 20011,2 1 April 1999 to 31 May 20001 Number made from: 1 June 2000 to 31 March 20012 Total Avon and Somerset 13 9 4 13 Bedfordshire — — — — Cambridgeshire 5 5 — 5 Cheshire — — — — Cleveland 5 1 3 4 Cumbria 1 1 — 1 Derbyshire 11 3 8 11 Devon and Cornwall 3 1 2 3 Dorset 2 — 2 2 Durham 6 — 6 6 Essex — — — — Gloucestershire 1 — 1 1 Greater Manchester 13 10 3 13 Hampshire 2 1 — 1 Hertfordshire 5 1 4 5 Humberside 10 — 10 10 Kent 10 — 10 10 Lancashire 12 5 7 12 Leicestershire 1 — — 1 Lincolnshire — — — — Merseyside 12 8 — 8 Metropolitan police service3 23 9 12 21 Norfolk 10 6 4 10 Northamptonshire — — — — Northumbria 12 8 4 12 North Yorkshire 4 4 — 4 Nottinghamshire 5 1 4 5 South Yorkshire 4 3 1 4 Staffordshire 2 — 2 2 Suffolk 3 3 — 3 Surrey 1 — 1 1 Sussex 4 3 1 4 Thames Valley 1 1 — 1 Warwickshire 1 — 1 1 West Mercia 12 5 7 12 West Midlands 18 11 7 18 West Yorkshire 9 4 5 9 Wiltshire — — — — England 221 104 109 213 Dyfed-Powys — — — — Gwent — — — — North Wales 1 — 1 1 South Wales 1 — 1 1 Wales 2 — 2 2 England and Wales 223 104 111 215 1 Based on data collected from ACPO and GLA trawls covering period 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 2 Data collected centrally from magistrates courts committees as from 1 June 2000 onwards 3 Includes City of London
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recent report from the Metropolitan Police Public Order Unit about the difficulties of obtaining antisocial behaviour orders; and what response he has made. [1247]
410W(2) what the cost of unsuccessful antisocial behaviour order applications has been to date for each (a) police force and (b) local authority area in England and Wales. [1253]
§ Mr. DenhamThe average cost of an antisocial behaviour order, based on a recent survey of 20 cases, was £5,480. Less dun one in 20 applications has been refused so far. Figures for the cost of the eight applications which have been refused (listed in the table) are not available centrally.
§ Mr. DenhamWe have noted the references in the report to some of the problems faced in considering and applying for Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs). It is to be expected that a new provision will take some time to bed down. We are, nevertheless, conducting a review 411W of these orders to evaluate their effectiveness and to identify best practice. The review should be completed later this year.
In the meantime we note from the report that 32 antisocial behaviour orders have been made in the Metropolitan police area between April 1999 and June this year and the very positive message about the benefits of the police working in partnership with local authorities and other agencies to tackle antisocial behaviour. Paragraph 12 of the report states:
One of the major achievements of the work on ASBOs has been the obligation and need to work in partnership. […] We are aware of no instances of Metropolitan police service officers failing to co-operate with local authority partners in applying for an ASBO. Quite the contrary, there is considerable evidence of excellent partnership working. Tentative early partnerships are maturing into collaborations with trust and understanding.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) antisocial behaviour orders and (b) antisocial behaviour contracts have been issued. [2349]
§ Mr. DenhamAs at 31 March 2001 there have been 215 antisocial behaviours orders (ASBOs) issued within England and Wales.
An acceptable behaviour contract (ABC) is a voluntary written agreement between a person, whose behaviour is causing a problem, and the police or local authority. It will normally contain a list of antisocial actions which the person undertakes not to do and may also specify certain areas which he or she undertakes not to enter. The ABC is not enforceable in itself but a breach could lead to an ASBO.
We have no plans at present to ask local partnerships to collect statistics on these.
§ Ms CoffeyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been successfully applied for in each of the local authorities in Greater Manchester. [2336]
§ Mr. DenhamWe understand that at least 10 antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) were, issued in Greater Manchester between 1 April 1999 and 31 May 2000. From 1 June 2000 the number of such orders applied for and issued have been collected centrally. Between 1 June 2000 and 31 March 2001, three ASBOs were applied for and granted in Greater Manchester, two were issued within the North and West Greater Manchester Magistrates Courts Committee (MCC) area and one within the Trafford MCC. Figures by local authority area for the numbers of orders applied for are not held centrally.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evaluation has been made of the effectiveness and ease of implementation of antisocial412W behaviour (a) contracts and (b) orders; and what advice he is giving to local councils and the police on the merits and demerits of each. [2355]
§ Mr. DenhamAs my predecessor confirmed in a written answer to my right hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael) on 5 February 2001,Official Report, column 424W, we are also researching the operation and effectiveness of the antisocial behaviour order. We will also ensure the effectiveness of the acceptable behaviour scheme in Islington.
Guidance on antisocial behaviour orders was issued to the police and local authorities in March 1999 and June 2000. The previous Home Secretary made speeches and published a number of articles on the benefits of antisocial behaviour orders. Some of these also mentioned acceptable behaviour contracts. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I will do the same as the opportunity arises.
§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often antisocial behaviour orders have been used; and what assessment has been made of their effectiveness. [1421]
§ Mr. DenhamBased on figures for up to 31 March this year, 215 antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in England and Wales since 1 April 1999. The evidence so far shows that they have been used successfully in a variety of circumstances and to good effect.
We are currently conducting a comprehensive review of these orders to evaluate their effectiveness in dealing with antisocial behaviour and to identify best practice. We expect this review to be completed later this year and we will consider the report carefully.
§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued since the relevant provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into effect in each local authority area, broken down by(a) reason for the order, (b) average age of the subject of the order and (c) source of the order; and if he will make a statement. [2115]
§ Mr. DenhamAvailable information given in the table shows the number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOS) made by age group of subject and police force area. Information on local authority area, the reasons for the orders and the source of the orders is not collected centrally.
The evidence so far shows that they (ASBOs) have been used successfully in a variety of circumstances and to good effect.
We are currently conducting a comprehensive review of these orders to evaluate their effectiveness in dealing with antisocial behaviour and to identify best practice. We expect this review to be completed later this year and we will consider the report carefully.
413W
Antisocial behaviour orders made between 1 April 1999 and 31 March 2001 by age group and police force area within England and Wales Number made from 1 June 2000 to 31 March 20012 Police force area Number made from 1 April 1999 to 31 May 20001 Age 10–17 Age 18+ Age unknown Total Total made from 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2001 Avon and Somerset 9 2 2 — 4 13 Bedfordshire — — — — — — Cambridgeshire 5 — — — — 5 Cheshire — — — — — — Cleveland 1 3 — — 3 4 Cumbria 1 — — — — 1 Derbyshire 3 1 7 — 8 11 Devon and Cornwall — 1 1 — 2 3 Dorset — 2 — — 2 2 Durham — 3 2 — 6 6 Essex — — — — — — Gloucestershire — 1 — — 1 1 Greater Manchester 10 1 2 — 3 13 Hampshire 1 — — — — 1 Hertfordshire 1 — 4 — 4 5 Humberside — 2 7 1 10 10 Kent — 9 1 — 10 10 Lancashire 5 2 5 — 7 12 Leicestershire 1 — — — — 1 Lincolnshire — — — — — — Merseyside 8 — — — — 8 Metropolitan police service3 9 4 7 1 12 21 Norfolk 6 3 1 — 4 10 Northamptonshire — — — — — — Northumbria 8 2 2 — 4 12 North Yorkshire 4 — — — — 4 Nottinghamshire 1 3 1 — 4 5 South Yorkshire 3 — 1 — 1 4 Staffordshire — — 2 — 2 2 Suffolk 3 — — — — 3 Surrey — — 1 — — 1 Sussex 3 1 — — — 4 Thames Valley 1 — — — — 1 Warwickshire — — 1 — 1 1 West Mercia 5 2 5 — 7 12 West Midlands 11 6 1 — 7 18 West Yorkshire 4 4 1 — 5 9 Wiltshire — — — — — — England 104 52 54 3 109 213 Dyfed-Powys — — — — — — Gwent — — — — — — North Wales — 1 — — 1 — South Wales — — — — 1 — Wales — 1 1 — 2 2 England and Wales 104 53 55 3 111 215 1 Based on data collected from ACPO and GLA trawls covering period 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 Information on the age of recipients not available 2 Data collected centrally from magistrates courts committees as from 1 June 2000 onwards 3 Includes City of London
§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in respect of(a) juveniles and (b) adults; and if he will make a statement. [2962]
§ Mr. DenhamA total of 104 antisocial behaviour orders were issued in England and Wales between 1 April 1999 and 31 May 2000. A breakdown by age for the orders issued in this period is not held centrally. However data collected centrally from June 2000 to 31 March 2001 show a further 111 antisocial behaviour orders being414W made of which 53 were given to persons aged 10 to 17 years, 55 to persons aged 18 and over and three where the age is unknown.