Set up to fail the ASBO?

Since an alarming Star headline featured two of the youngest youths placed on Anti-social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs), we have been keen to see what is in place to deter them from breaking their orders, and what effect being labelled, named and publicly shamed has had on these two local young boys.

I first spoke to local-born Robert Menzies father of both boys, Dan-I and brother Levan. Robert expressed his frustration and concerns about the supervision on offer.

“I went with Dan-I but they wouldn’t allow me to see the probation person with him – I don’t know what’s going on. As for activities – no, he just has to see the probation office at regular intervals.”

Robert explained he hadn’t been in a relationship with Dan-I and Levan’s mother for some time, but he was trying his best to be around to help as much as he could. He feels that without any special needs intervention his son has been set up to fail from day one.

Becoming a target

I also spoke to mother Cheryl Coley and asked her what support she was receiving from other agencies and youth providers.

“It depends on what they mean as support,” said Cheryl. “Dan-I hasn’t really received anything, other than a talk with our family support officer and a placement on a music course.”

Cheryl began to explain her concern. Dan-I has become a main target for the police in the area. “My son is being pulled over by that riot van in the middle of the streets, he now carries notification of his ASBO with him whenever he goes out.”

Nothing to do

I spoke personally to Dan-I Menzies who had broken his ASBO within a few weeks. He told me he thought being on an ASBO was a load of rubbish. I asked if, since he was named and shamed in The Star, he was receiving any help to keep occupied and out of trouble.

“No,” said Dan-I. “I don’t get any activities, I hang on the street ’til my curfew. I was walking on Nottingham Street, the police stopped me and said I’d broken my ASBO.”

“We have nothing to do anyway,” adds younger brother Levan. “When we’re outside, the centres aren’t open and when they are open, there’s still nothing there for us.”

Dan-I explained some of the activities he and others with him would like to take part in; abseiling, mountain climbing, indoor or outdoor pursuits, go-karting, paint balling, ten-pin bowling. “Skiing on the slopes,” adds Levan. I began to see young people whose disadvantages in this life are inherent to parental and social circumstances.

These words are a reflection of what seems to be a real lack of challenging youth engagement, of effective facilitation and inducement inside the centres that are open. Without activities or supervision for young children like Dan-I and others, aren’t ASBOs just creating a short cut to a criminal record?

Lack of support?

Lorraine Blake, senior worker at the Ellesmere Youth Project also feels strongly that ASBOs aren’t the right way to deal with these problems.

“There doesn’t seem to be any form of counselling to go with the ASBO, other than going and signing in at a probation office, nothing else. It’s not being followed up with an evaluation of the recipient’s home environment. The children have no proper assistance, help or incentives to help them learn where they are going wrong.”

Serving the community

I went along to speak to the Area Team Leader of Burngreave’s Anti-social Behaviour Team, Wendy Barlow, who explained a few of the rules.

“There is no criminal record against the person with the ASBO unless the order is breached,” explained Wendy. “ASBOs are taken out under civil law, not criminal law. They can only be applied for by authorities such as the Police or Registered Social Landlords like Arches or South Yorkshire Housing Associations. There is an eleven-step process to the ASBO, it can be withdrawn at any stage. It can take 6–9 months and those seeking the order have to show proof that it is necessary.”

I enquired when a young person was placed on an ASBO, what mechanisms were in place to support them.

“One of the steps towards the ASBO is a professional meeting which would include any agency involved or who could offer support. If there is no support then some is put in place. If, on the other hand, support is already provided, a decision to proceed with the ASBO might be made.”

“The role of the ASBO team is to serve the wider community who are suffering from anti-social behaviour. We must be sure that people can enjoy the peace, quite and safety of their homes as well as the area they live. Support is not our remit, but we work with other agencies to put it in place. But Rob, this is a two-way process and you can take the horses to water but you can’t force them all to drink. Everyone has to own up to their own responsibility, regardless of age.” adds Wendy.

by Rob Smith