Gardaí criticise ASBOs as ‘just window dressing’

RANK-AND-FILE gardaí have criticised plans to introduce British-style anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs), claiming they are just “a form of window dressing”.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) said loutish behaviour can already be tackled under existing legislation - but there wasn’t enough gardaí to enforce the law.

“There is legislation already there, such as the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act and the Children Act, but we don’t have the resources there to implement them. This (ASBOs) is a form of window dressing, legislatively speaking,” said a GRA spokesperson.