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ASBO officer to quell yobs

Tom Rowley
24/ 5/2006

HIGH PEAK Council is set to appoint an ASBO officer on an annual salary of £30,000.

Despite only three people being subject to anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) in Glossop, the council believes appointing an officer will help prevent any more being needed across the borough.

The orders are meant to restrict the movement of yobs convicted of criminal damage, abuse and similar offences, keep them out of certain areas and stop them associating with certain individuals.

Councillor Roger Wilkinson, chairman of High Peak Community Safety Partnership, said imposing ASBOs was very much a last resort.

"We recognise that anti-social behaviour can have a detrimental impact on quality of life, so the partnership has a wide range of solutions which include mediation, diversionary activities, Acceptable Behaviour Contracts and as a last resort Anti-Social Behaviour Orders," he said.

"We want to prevent the type of behaviour that leads to ASBOs.

"The new anti-social behaviour officer will play a lead role in working with communities and individuals to identify problems and implement the appropriate response in each case. This will include mediation and developing alternative activities.

"Acceptable Behaviour Contracts are another option which have proved to be highly successful and prevent the need for resorting to ASBOs."

Since 2004 the partnership has implemented five dispersal orders and completed 26 acceptable behaviour contract interviews. A council spokeswoman said High Peak enjoyed an "excellent" track record on re-offending rates.

"It is important to remember that the High Peak has a relatively low level of incidents compared to other parts of the country," she said. "There are only three ASBOs currently operating in Glossop."

The Home Office is funding the appointment, which will be for a fixed term of two years. The partnership has been awarded £145,282 for 2006/07, from which the salary will be paid.

Members of the council's social inclusion and community select committee are to discuss the post at its meeting on Wednesday.