The association said antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) were causing young people to bypass the youth justice system and end up in custody for breaching their order.
Mike Thomas, the executive member of the association responsible for antisocial behaviour, said: "ASBOs have caused a range of concerns, not least that sub-criminal behaviour results in custody. It seems ludicrous when sometimes young people's actions are dealt with as criminal and sometimes they go down the ASBO route."
Youth offending teams are becoming concerned about the knock-on effects of ASBOs. The association has hired the Audit Commission to see how big a problem it is nationally.
Maggie Smith, deputy manager of Leeds Youth Offending Service, said: "The number of breaches has led to an increasing number of custodial sentences. It conflicts with our Youth Justice Board targets."
Youth offending teams are expected to ensure custodials make up no more than six per cent of sentences for under-18s by the end of this year.
Breaches of ASBOs were the main reason for youth court appearances in Leeds, said Smith.
The Home Office and Youth Justice Board are developing guidance on how local antisocial behaviour teams and youth offending teams should work together (YPN, 3-9 March, p2), but sources close to the discussions said progress had stalled.
See Leader, p15.
