Lucy Breakwell The Politics Show North West

Manchester tops league of Asbo issues

The local elections are almost upon us and one of 2006's hot topics is safety on the streets. We investigate how different councils tackle the issue of anti-social behaviour.

Take Manchester - it prides itself on being the ASBO capital of the country.

Over the past five years it has issued 555 anti social behaviour orders and its neighbourhood nuisance team has carried out 5,626 successful legal actions - most of them county court injunctions against anti-social tenants.

Just down the M61 in Chorley people are also concerned about anti-social behaviour, but the council here has a different approach.

It does not issue ASBOs straight away but uses acceptable behaviour contracts instead.

The team in charge say these contracts are a diversionary tactic and ASBOs are only used as a last resort.

Both councils will be in the spotlight on voting day.

Chorley is the top Tory target in the North West and in Manchester Labour's overall majority is under threat for the first time in 35 years.

Also in this weeks programme ...

Did you know that in Bolton it is illegal to shake, sweep, brush or clean any carpet, rug or mat in any park in the borough?

That is according to clause 25 of the Parks and Recreation Act 1890.

We will try to find out why and Gill Dummigan takes a journey around the North West finding out about the strange, ancient bye-laws that still exist across the region.

Bye-laws still play a very important part in local authorities today, and are there to tackle local problems that aren't centrally legislated for.

In the North West there are bye-laws banning drinking on the streets, skateboarders on promenades and dogs on beaches ... All problems today, just as brushing carpets in parks must have been the anti social behaviour of 19th Century.

Jim Hancock presents Politics Show North West with Gill Dummigan

According to experts, bye-laws were first introduced in the middle of the 1800s to improve people's lives and were often associated with public health issues.

Although much has changed since then, byelaws still have the same purpose - tackling problems that affect public life - such as street drinking.

The Politics Show

Join Jim Hancock and Gill Dummigan on the Politics Show on Sunday 07 May 2006 at 12.00pm on BBC One.

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