Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs)
What is an ASBO?
It's an order made by a Magistrates Court issued to stop anyone over the age of 10 from behaving in an anti-social manner.
It's not recorded as a criminal record but is often associated with criminal offending. ASBOs are effective for a minimum of two years.
Anti-social behaviour includes:
- harassment of people
- verbal abuse
- criminal damage
- vandalism
- noise nuisance
- writing graffiti
- engaging in threatening behaviour in large groups
- racial abuse
- smoking or drinking alcohol while underage
- substance misuse
- joyriding
- begging
- prostitution
- kerb-crawling
- throwing missiles
- assault
- vehicle vandalism
Who can apply for an ASBO?
Applications for an ASBO can be made by:
- Police
- Local Council
- Registered Social Landlords
- Housing Associations/Trusts
- British Transport Police
What happens if an ASBO is broken?
If you continue with the anti-social behaviour, and the conditions of the ASBO are broken, the matter will then be dealt with as a criminal offence. Depending on the severity of the breach, this could lead to a fine or up to 5 years in prison.
