McDowell planning new anti-social crackdown

Justice Minister Michael McDowell is reportedly planning to introduce new measures later this year to help gardaí and local authorities crack down on anti-social behaviour.

Reports this morning said Mr McDowell told the Oireachtas justice committee yesterday that he was planning to introduce Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBO) before the end of the year.

Such orders would allow gardaí or local authorities to summon loiterers and delinquents to court on a civil rather than a criminal basis.

These offenders would then be ordered to refrain from anti-social behaviour or face arrest and charge.

ASBOs have already been introduced in Britain, where, according to Mr McDowell, they have worked well.