Theresa May suggests scrapping Asbos

In a speech today at a London community centre, May said "it’s time to move beyond the Asbo".

She said that the use of such orders had failed to address anti-social behaviour and other methods were needed.

"We need to make anti-social behaviour what it once was, unusual, abnormal and something to stand up to, instead of what it has become, frequent, normal and tolerated," she said.

Her comments coincide with the release of the latest government statistics on the use of Asbos. The figures show that of the 16,895 Asbos issued between 2000 and 2008, 55 per cent were breached at least once and 40 per cent were breached more than once. Of those handed out to young people aged between 10 and 17, 65 per cent were breached at least once.

However, Joyce Moseley, chief executive of Catch 22, stressed that any new proposals need to be balanced with the right support and intervention. "We recognise that in some communities people’s behaviour can make life virtually unbearable. Dealing with that behaviour is the responsibility of all of us.

"In our experience it is possible to work with families and turn the lives of young people engaging in anti-social behaviour around. Our successes are based on involving young people in positive activities, which can help to significantly reduce anti-social behaviour in local communities," Moseley added.