Editorial: Asbos are not a cure-all for bad behaviour

David Blunkett, the former Home Secretary who oversaw a massive expansion in the use of antisocial behaviour orders (Asbos), last week admitted in a television interview that some young people regard the controversial measure as a "badge of honour". His admission chimed with the findings of a Youth Justice Board study last November that also found half of all Asbos held by teenagers were being breached.

The Asbo is a blunt instrument that has been oversold as an answer to antisocial behaviour since its introduction more than seven years ago.

As a punitive measure, Asbo cases have been lapped up by many sections of the media. Reporting of them has served to intensify the demonisation of young people as they purport to protect communities.

The Government, of course, insists it has a twin-track approach of sanctions and support. This week it has announced 40 "respect areas" in England and Wales, identified as "having earned the right to be exemplars of the respect programme by their strong track record in tackling antisocial behaviour". They will receive 6m for parenting classes and be encouraged to run family intervention projects and public meetings with police.

But the mood music overlaying these preventative measures is as macho as ever. Accompanying this week's announcement, Home Secretary John Reid speaks of tackling the "scourge of antisocial behaviour", adding that "there are no more excuses for local services not to take action to create stronger, safer communities". Lord Bassam, spokesman for the Home Office in the House of Lords, said recently that Asbos should be a "first, rather than last resort". It all serves to suggest the Asbo's principal function is to reassure the public that something is being done rather than the actual prevention of antisocial behaviour.

But a chink of light has emerged. As we report this week, respect co-ordinator Louise Casey has told the Public Accounts Committee there needs to be more detailed analysis of 10- to 17-year-olds given Asbos (p7).

Home Office records of Asbos currently lump all young people together.

It needs urgently to look at other factors such as ethnicity to sharpen intervention techniques and work with young people to change their behaviour.