antisocialbehaviour

Anti-Social Behaviour Orders & ABCs

Here you can quickly learn what an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) is and what the main differences are when compared to ABCs (Acceptable Behaviour Contracts).

What is an ASBO?

When dealing with nuisance neighbours we're often faced with all kinds of other disturbances and problems. As anyone that has suffered with a problem neighbour will know, with disturbance and unwanted intrusions often comes antisocial behaviour.

With Neighbours From Hell, things often go hand in hand; it's a very rare occurrence where a neighbour problem will solely be isolated in it's own right - with noise often comes threatening and intimidating behaviour, with boundary problems, bullying is often associated. So the list goes on and so unfortunately do the associations.

Anti Social Behaviour Orders or 'ASBO's' originate from the platform of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 - this piece of legislation introduced by the government focuses on the many varied and different areas of criminal activity, different crimes and disorderly behaviour.

Within the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, many new ways were first introduced to help combat criminal issues and the anti social behaviour order was amongst these. These are outlined within Part 1 - 'Crime and disorder: general'.

The key point here to note though is that an order can be applied for against any individual who is over the age of 10 years old.

The act states:

1. - (1) An application for an order under this section may be made by a relevant authority if it appears to the authority that the following conditions are fulfilled with respect to any person aged 10 or over"

You can't apply for an ASBO as a private individual, it can only be sought by the Police in an official capacity, together with the Local Authority in question - they are a joint undertaking. The orders, that are made to the magistrate's court are community based and they can be made against a person or group of individuals who display and use anti social behaviour.

The minimum length that an ASBO needs to be in place is for two years. Before an ASBO can be applied for there must be evidence of some form(s) of antisocial behaviour.