The Labour Party manifesto says a total of nearly 4,000 antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) have been issued, which is helping to create safer communities. It also promises to give councils more power to deal with problem individuals.
The Conservatives say that "antisocial behaviour is a growing concern for all our communities" and they would increase police numbers by 5,000 a year to address the problem.
The Liberal Democrats would increase the use of acceptable behaviour contracts, and continue to use ASBOs "where individuals do not co-operate".
Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said concentrating on antisocial behaviour "fits a tough-talking approach but doesn't reduce crime." She added: "There must be a better way of responding to unacceptable behaviour."
Lucie Russell, director of crime-reduction campaigning group SmartJustice, said politicians are oversimplifying the issue to win votes. "It is so black and white," she said. "We do have a problem, and some of the antisocial behaviour legislation and the way councils use it is good, but others are just using it willy-nilly."
Fred Bernas, the UK Youth Parliament Member for Hounslow, said: "The Government has talked about the fact that it wants to get rid of youth problems at the core, so why is it investing so much effort into the Antisocial Behaviour Act?"
See Analysis, p8.
