More than half Sussex Asbos breached (From The Argus)

More than half Sussex Asbos breached

3:20pm Wednesday 24th October 2012 in News By Anna Roberts, Crime reporter

Yobs are more likely to breach their antisocial behaviour orders (Asbos) in Sussex than almost anywhere else in the country.

Sussex has issued 510 Asbos since they were introduced more than ten years ago and 256 of these have been breached at least once – more than 65%.

New figures released by the Home Office revealed only Durham and Dorset fared worse.

Of the orders issued in Sussex between April 1999 and December 2011, 417 were given to men.

In 2010, a 20-year-old woman from Forest Row was accused of breaching an Asbo after throwing snowballs at people in the village.

Earlier this year The Argus reported how Kean Lamb, 17, of Copthorne, had also been banned from throwing snowballs.

The two-year Asbo banned him from “throwing, or encouraging others to throw, any object at property or other people unless he is playing sport”.

Inspector Martin Pattenden, from Sussex Police, said: “We know that, nationally, a lot of Asbos are breached.

“Indeed, this was pointed out by the coalition when they came to power. This, in turn, led to a White Paper following consultation.

Powers together “The White Paper will bring a |number of ASB [antisocial behaviour] powers together in what are |intended to be easier and simpler powers.”

He said that the Asbo will be replaced in due course by the Crime Prevention Injunction and the Criminal Behaviour Order.

He added: “The latter will be applied for after conviction for an offence. One significant difference is that they will allow ‘positive’ conditions. This could be training, substance misuse treatment or crime diversion schemes.”

Sussex Police said it would carry on using Asbos. Insp Pattenden said: “Asbos |are only one tool for dealing with |perpetrators of antisocial |behaviour.

“For example, Sussex Police have been pathfinders for community |resolutions where offenders are made to face up to what they have done |and victims get the satisfaction of some remedy, even if it is just an apology.

“Will we keep Asbos? Yes, they are part of a wider toolkit for keeping the community safe.

“We recognise that they are not a panacea and giving someone an Asbo is not a measure of success.”