Tools and Powers

A range of new tools and powers has been made available to local authorities, the police and registered social landlords to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs)

An Acceptable behaviour contract (or ABC) is a voluntary agreement, used mainly with 10-17 year olds. They last for up to six months whereby the offender agrees not to participate in any activity that is likely to cause harassment or alarm, for example: graffiti and vandalism or noisy and abusive behaviour. If the individual does not agree to an ABC or if the conditions are breached then further action can be taken by applying for an anti-social behaviour order.

Anti-social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs)

Anti-social behaviour orders or ASBOs are civil orders made by the court which prohibit the perpetrator from specific anti-social acts and from entering defined areas on a map (exclusion zones). An order lasts for a minimum of two years If the order is breached the offence becomes a criminal act which can be punishable by a fine or up to five years in prison or both.

The purpose of an ASBO is to protect the public from behaviour that causes, or is likely to cause, harassment or alarm or distress, not to punish the perpetrator. Therefore ASBOs are community-based orders that are designed to encourage local communities to become actively involved in reporting crime and anti-social behaviour.

There are four types of anti-social behaviour orders:

• A stand-alone order, unrelated to any other legal proceedings. These are made by the magistrates court, acting in its civil capacity.
• An interim order, which can be made by the magistrates court and by a county court at an initial court hearing in advance of a full hearing of an application for an ASBO. These interim orders can be made without notice to the defendant. They enable the court to order an immediate stop to the anti-social behaviour and so protect the public more quickly.
• A county court order can be obtained where there are other proceedings against a defendant.
• An order made on conviction in criminal proceedings. Criminal courts, namely the magistrates' court, the crown court and the youth court, can make an order against an individual who has been convicted of a criminal offence.

A wide range of other interventions and sanctions have also been made available under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003.

The key aims of any intervention are to:

• Enable the individual to recognise the consequences of their behaviour
• Ensure that they change their behaviour
• Protect victims, witnesses and the community.

Within North Dorset there are currently 2 ABCs with another pending, 1 ASBO being applied for through the civil courts and 2 ASBOs being applied for on criminal convictions.