In his speech to the Labour Party conference, Prime Minister Tony Blair said the Government will publish plans to develop existing antisocial behaviour law by the end of the year. He said this will include "a radical extension of summary powers to police and the local authorities".
Hazel Blears, the minister in charge of antisocial behaviour, said that the Government is exploring the idea of using street bail to take immediate action. This would involve a suspect being given a condition similar to the condition of an ASBO when they are given bail.
But other ministers appeared to be pushing for a more liberal approach to dealing with antisocial behaviour. Maria Eagle, the junior youth minister, said that although she backed the use of ASBOs, "they have turned into something that they were not quite intended to be". She said there are different views on whether ASBOs should be given to young people and "room for debate" on whether a breach of an ASBO should result in a young person being locked up.
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