Asbos 'may criminalise children'

The report for the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) says Asbos are increasingly being used as a way of getting youngsters into the criminal justice system rather than diverting them from crime.

The report, called Make Me a Criminal - Preventing Youth Crime, also calls for an expansion of the Sure Start scheme for disadvantaged children.

It states: "Anti-Social Behaviour orders are a good example of a policy that was introduced with a positive aim of referring young people at risk to appropriate support before they fall into crime.

"However, in practice they have been used more often as a punishment, or as a way of speeding up entry into the criminal justice system. Evidence that Asbos are not used to direct young people to support should be sufficient to encourage proper reform of the system."

It says there is little evidence that Asbos work, and some evidence they do not work at all It quotes research that found to many youngsters, an Asbo was a badge of honour.

Between 2000 and 2004 a total of 3,829 Asbos were issued in England and Wales, with 74% served on people under the age of 21. It also reveals that children's behaviour and emotional well-being at the age of 10 can predict the likelihood of offending at 16.

Intervening at this crucial age, the IPPR says, Sure Start Plus would draw together current services such as those providing play areas and mentoring, and target resources at children and families most at-risk of offending.

Julia Margo, IPPR associate director and report author said: "The evidence shows that the most prolific criminals start offending between the ages of 10 and 13. Sure Start Plus would target kids and families who are at the highest risk of turning into offenders later in life. The service, tailored to each child and family, would provide services including parenting support groups, respite care and counselling."

The report argues Asbos should not be used on children under 12, unless accompanied by parenting or family orders, and that Asbos for older children should be scaled back from the current two to 10 year limit to between six and 24 months.