GRA hits out at McDowell's ASBO plans

The Garda Representative Association has criticised Justice Minister Michael McDowell's plans to introduce controversial British-style anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) in Ireland.

Reports this morning said the GRA, which represents rank-and-file gardaí, had described the minister's plans as "a form of window dressing".

The GRA believes anti-social behaviour can be adequately tackled under existing legislation if there was enough gardaí in the system to enforce the law.

The association is the latest in a growing number of groups to criticise Mr McDowell's ASBO plans.

Several organisations have already said the measure will criminalise youngsters on the basis of hearsay evidence and has been a failure in other countries like Britain.