A British Institute for Brain Injured Children survey of 53 youthoffending teams found that 35 per cent of Asbos imposed on under-17sinvolved children with neurological disorders or learning difficulties.ADHD was the condition involved in two-fifths of these cases.
Pam Knight, the institute's director of policy and communications, saidAsbos should not be given to those with such problems. "Asbos are a goodtool but those who receive them must be able to adhere to and understandthe terms and conditions imposed," she said. "It's completelyinappropriate - like asking someone with epilepsy to stop fitting."
A Home Office spokeswoman said the Government had issued guidance in anattempt to ensure that learning difficulties and neurological disordersare taken into account by courts when issuing Asbos.
"There are a number of safeguards in our guidance to local authoritiesand the courts," said the spokeswoman. "The guidance says learningdisabilities and neurological conditions must be considered when seekingor imposing an anti-social behaviour order."
But this guidance still allows Asbos to be imposed on people with theseconditions.
The publication of the institute's survey coincided with the latestfigures on the number of Asbos issued in England and Wales. The HomeOffice figures show that 5,557 Asbos where issued between April 1999 andMarch 2005. Juveniles accounted for 44 per cent of the total.
- www.crimereduction.gov.uk/asbos2.htm.
