§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been in force in each month since their introduction. [86182]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 9 December 2002]An anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) is a civil order that has been available to the police and local authorities since April 1999. ASBOs are granted for a minimum period of two years.
From 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000, data on the number of ASBOs issued was collected by police force area. From 1 June 2000, official statistics on the number of ASBOs issued are based on quarterly returns from Magistrates' Courts Committees (MCCs).
Available information in the table shows the number of notifications received by the Home Office of ASBOs issued from 1 April 1999 up to 30 June 2002 (latest available) and by duration of order given since June 2000. We do not collect information on the number of ASBOs in force at any given period, and cannot estimate it reliably from the data in the table.
We are aware that the numbers of ASBOs made locally have been consistently under reported in returns made by magistrates' courts and are considering how reporting can be improved.
We are aware that the numbers of ASBOs made locally have been consistently under reported in returns made by magistrates' courts and are considering how reporting can be improved.
633W
Number of anti-social behaviour orders granted, as notified to the Home Office, by duration from 1 April 1999 to 30 June 2002, England and Wales 2 years 2.25 years 2.5 years 2.75 years 3 years 3.25 years 3.75 years 4 years 5 years and over Until further order Not known Total April to June 2001 44 0 1 0 20 0 0 4 14 7 3 93 July to September 2001 27 0 1 1 19 0 1 4 8 3 3 67 October to December 2001 26 1 1 0 14 1 0 1 9 4 0 57 January to March 2002 19 0 2 0 9 1 0 2 12 6 0 51 April to June 2002 28 0 1 0 18 0 0 2 16 7 0 72 Total 274 2 6 1 111 2 1 22 74 43 118 654 1 Total figures only available from police force areas for period 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000. 2 As from 1 June 2000, data collected centrally by Magistrates' Courts Committee (MCC) area by quarter. 3 Not available.
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long on average it takes to introduce an anti-social behaviour order. [86427]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 9 December 2002]A survey of anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) monitoring forms indicated that the court process was taking on average 13 weeks. To improve the effectiveness of ASBOs and reduce delays, legislative changes have been made under the Police Reform Act 2002 and new guidance published. Courts may now make an interim order to protect the community from the start of the court process, and criminal courts may make orders on conviction, thereby avoiding the need for a separate court process and making better use of court time. In addition, orders may now also cover a wider area, and from 1 April 2003, county courts will be able to make orders when dealing with other civil action.
We will continue to review implementation of these orders with a view to considering whether they can be further streamlined.