New measures to help police and courts clamp down on anti-social behaviour and nuisance crime came into force on 2 December 2002. Courts will be able to impose anti-social behaviour orders more quickly, and to attach conditions preventing offenders behaving in an anti-social manner in wider areas. The government simultaneously announced the introduction of detention powers for community support officers in six pilot areas.
Source: Press release 2.12.02, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
A research review concluded that anti-social behaviour orders ('ASBOs') are cumbersome, costly and difficult to enforce.
Source: Rachel Armitage, Tackling anti-social Behaviour: What Really Works, National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (020 7582 6500)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Nov
The government decided to create a unit within the Home Office on anti-social behaviour. Louise Casey (formerly head of the rough sleeping unit) was appointed as its first head.
Source: Press release 14.11.02, Home Office (0870 000 1585) | The Guardian, 11.11.02
Links: Press release | Guardian report
Date: 2002-Nov
A report examined in detail what young people of secondary school age do out of school; and, in particular, the problem of boredom and its links with anti-social behaviour and crime.
Source: Make Space for Young People, Nestl Family Monitor 15, Nestl UK Ltd (020 8686 3333)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2002-Oct
The Prime Minister said that: 'anti-social tenants and their anti-social landlords who make money out of abusing housing benefit, while making life hell for the community, should lose their right to it'.
Source: Speech by Tony Blair MP to Labour Party Conference, 1.10.02
Links: Text of speech
Date: 2002-Oct
From 12 August 2002, police had the power to issue fixed penalty notices to individuals committing routine offences in three pilot areas: West Midlands, Essex and Met Police (Croydon Division). The pilot will be extended to include North Wales Police (Central Division) from 2 September. There are eleven offences for which a fixed penalty notice ( 40 or 80) can be issued, including threatening behaviour, making hoax calls to emergency services, and being drunk and disorderly.
Source: The Guardian, 13.8.02
Links: Article | Home Office Crime Reduction website
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 6.5
Date: 2002-Aug