Yvette Cooper to set out crackdown on antisocial behaviour including jail terms
Persistent offenders will face up to two years in prison under Respect orders, as police get powers to seize vehicles
June 2024
Life under Labour
Labour wants to ‘take back our streets’: Will this help people affected by crime?
Experts say Keir Starmer’s plans to cut serious crime levels are ambitious. The party also hopes to restore faith in the criminal justice system but with limited extra resources
August 2023
Welcome to ‘asbo Britain 2.0’ – the new Tory plan to turn voters against vulnerable people
Daisy Schofield
A reboot of the defunct New Labour policy would increase on-the-spot fines and give the police terrifying new powers, says journalist Daisy Schofield
March 2023
A tragic accident should not have landed Auriol Grey in prison. The UK justice system is stuck in the dark ages
Simon Jenkins
The UK’s obsession with jail time is counterproductive and cruel. There are better ways to deal with wrongdoing, says Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins
June 2021
Keir Starmer tells PM to ditch yacht and tackle antisocial behaviour
Labour leader criticises costly ‘national flagship’ plan and pledges to fund crime-fighting instead
July 2020
‘Like putting out a fire with a colander of water’: my life as an antisocial behaviour officer
I lasted 18 years in the job – but working with heroin addicts, the terminally ill and nuisance neighbours nearly broke me
December 2019
'Wanton' cycling and swearing among acts banned by councils
Increase in fines under public spaces protection orders raises concerns over civil liberties
August 2019
Polite society: why are British cities banning swearing?
Councils say bans help tackle anti-social behaviour. But critics argue restrictions are a heavy-handed curb on freedom of expression
April 2019
Antisocial behaviour ignored by authorities, report claims
Commissioner for England and Wales says many victims left to suffer in silence
February 2019
Police chief says knife crime spate is 'national emergency'
West Midlands police and crime commissioner asks for special grant to tackle outbreak
July 2018
Young black men more likely to be prosecuted over dispersal orders
First they came for the hoodlums. Now they’re after you
Zoe Williams
June 2018
Shortcuts
What you looking at? From neighbours to Netflix staff, how looking at people became a crime
A couple in East Sussex have been banned from looking at their next door neighbours’ house, while Netflix employees have been told not to look at each other for too long. What’s going on?
October 2017
There may finally be a way to stop abuse by anti-abortion protesters
Rupa Huq
A London council may extend asbo powers to deal with those who harass women as they enter NHS services, says Rupa Huq, Labour MP for Ealing Central & Acton
March 2017
Flocking hell: council plans to ban swearing in Rochdale
Council leader defends proposal to fine people £100 for using abusive language after Liberty says it would breach human rights
December 2016
Amber Rudd to introduce asbo-style bans for stalkers
Home secretary to unveil new stalking prevention orders to give courts powers to keep offenders away from victims
October 2016
More than £1bn for troubled families 'has had little impact'
Study of flagship social policy suggests small number of positive or negative results in tackling addiction and truancy
February 2016
Golf bags and remote-controlled cars banned under 'busybody's charter'
Councils increasingly using public space protection orders to ban everyday activities deemed to have detrimental effect on quality of life of residents
September 2015
PSPOs: the new control orders threatening our public spaces
Bradley L Garrett
This year has seen a growing number of councils proposing Public Space Protection Orders – a geographically defined version of asbos that could severely restrict people’s freedoms in urban spaces
June 2015
Shortcuts
The Ultimate Asbo Playlist: songs guaranteed to annoy your neighbours
A couple in Plymouth has been threatened with an Asbo for playing Roy Orbison at high volume. Here’s a roundup of tracks proved to wind everybody up
