§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been made in respect of residents of(a) Hertsmere and (b) Hertfordshire in each year since the inception of the orders. [74455]
§ Mr. DenhamAn anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) is a civil order made by a court which currently can be applied for by a local authority or the police. The table shows the number of notifications received by the Home Office of ASBOs issued within Hertfordshire by local government authority up to March 2002.
We are aware that the number of ASBOs made locally have been consistently under reported in returns made by magistrates courts and are considering how reporting can be improved.
Following boundary changes on 1 April 2000, responsibility for policing some parts of the Metropolitan Police area was transferred to Hertfordshire. A number of Metropolitan Police Officers were seconded to Hertfordshire following this change. Many of these officers returned to the Metropolitan Police Service during 2001/2002 and this is reflected in the fall in strength between March 2001 and March 2002.
Year as at 31 March Hertfordshire Police Strength 1997 1,759 2001 1,922 2002 1,825 Source:
Home Office Statistical Bulletins—Police Service Strength