1. One person's having a laugh with a few mates is another person's harassment, alarm or distress. So guidance that sets out clearly what is counted as antisocial behaviour should be welcome. Fat chance. The new guidance acknowledges that there has been "considerable criticism" of the definition of antisocial behaviour being too wide. But the Home Office likes the flexibility. It thinks a long list of what is antisocial in the view of Her Majesty's Government would be "unworkable and anomalous". So, no clarity there.
2. At the heart of ASBOs are prohibitions. These are conditions imposed that may be drawn up by the court, the police or other agencies involved. Prohibitions are not restricted to acts that are antisocial in themselves. They can cover behaviour that the court thinks is a precursor to a criminal act - such as entering a shopping centre.The guidance says prohibitions should avoid words like "curtilage", "paraphernalia" or "environs" as they may cause confusion. Not half.
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