3,000 adults one step away from receiving an ASBO

THE number of adults a step away from receiving an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) has doubled in less than two years, exceeding 3,000 for the first time.

The Department of Justice has revealed that as of the end of last November there were 3,033 adults on behaviour warnings. That compares with 1,434 people on similar warnings at the end of 2009.

The figure for children has also increased, from just over 1,000 at the end of 2009 to 1,974 at the end of last November.

In addition to those statistics, the department revealed there were 15 children with good behaviour contracts.

Four adults were the subject of civil orders, just one more than at the end of 2009, while there were three children with behaviour orders, the same number as two years ago.

The ASBO system was introduced at the start of 2007 with the intention of addressing antisocial behaviour by adults and children.

Even before the laws were introduced, there was strong criticism from children’s rights groups and others who said the introduction of similar measures in Britain had not worked in cutting the number of episodes of antisocial behaviour and often led to children becoming criminalised.

The penalties in Ireland range from a warning from a member of An Garda Síochána, to a good behaviour contract involving the child and their parents or guardian, to referral to the Garda juvenile diversion programme and finally to the making of a behaviour order by the Children’s Court. Measures involving adults include a warning and the making of a civil order by the court.

A Department spokesperson said: “In setting up the regime ... the intention was that the different interventions would address the problem behaviour.

“If they succeeded, there would be no need to apply to the courts for an order. It is only if they failed to lead to a behaviour adjustment by the person in question, that a court order would be applied for.”

Asked whether there were individuals who have repeatedly broken orders or who could be in line to receive a second ASBO, the department said it was not in a position to comment on individual cases.

An ASBO can be applied when an individual may not have committed a crime, but the breaking of an order is a criminal offence, leading to criticism from gardaí that the system is cumbersome and confusing.