HC Deb 27 November 2002 vol 395 cc366-7W
Mr. Malins

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Antisocial Behaviour Orders have been imposed in each of the last two years. [82083]

Mr. Denham

The table shows the number of notifications reported to the Home Office of Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) issued up to 30 June 2002 (latest available) within England and Wales.

returns made by magistrates courts, and are considering how reporting can be improved.

Mr. Malins

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of(a) practical and (b) procedural difficulties in relation to the imposition of Anti-social Behavioural Orders; and what remedial proposals he has. [82086]

Mr. Denham

Legislative changes were introduced by the Police Reform Act to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs). These changes, combined with the new guidance, will help to remedy some of the problems identified in the Home Office Review of ASBOs, published in April 2002. We are also working with the Local Chancellor's Department (LCD), Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and others to ensure that the necessary training is given to magistrates, prosecutors and others involved in the process. We will continue to review the working of ASBOs in order to make them as streamline as possible.

Mr. Grieve

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued since their introduction in the Beaconsfield constituency. [82385]

Mr. Denham

The table shows the number of notifications received by the Home Office of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs), issued within Buckinghamshire (in which the Beaconsfield constituency is situated) and by local government authority up to 30 June 2002 (latest available).

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.

Number of antisocial behaviour orders reported to the Home Office which have been issued as from 1 April 1999 to 30 June 2002 for Buckinghamshire by local government authority area
Area From 1 April 1999 to 31 May 20001 From 1 June 2000 to 30 June 2002 Total
Police force area/MCC
Thames Valley2 1 9 10
Local government authority, county of Buckinghamshire Milton Keynes borough council 3— 3 3
Wycombe district council 3— 2 2
1 Total figure only available for Thames Valley police force area within this period. Local government authority not known.
2 Includes total figure for counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
3 Not available.