The Anti-Social Behaviour Act will give police-style powers to accredited private security guards with further powers promised later in the year for security guards as well as Community Support Officers.

The police will also be able to disperse groups of people who have gathered in an area designated an anti-social hotspot by local authorities.

And a range of on-the-spot fines will be extended from adults to 16 and 17-year-olds for offences such as throwing fireworks and making hoax 999 calls.

The changes will also enable newspapers and local councils to name tearaways convicted and punished with an anti-social behaviour order.

Do you agree with Mr Blunkett's proposals? What should be done to remedy anti-social behaviour? Send us your comments and experiences.

This debate is now closed. Read your comments below.

Your reaction:

The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:

Zero tolerance of petty criminality like graffiti and vandalism is the only answer. Stop the petty problems and the big problems never have a chance to occur.
Andrew, UK

By all means bring in these measures, but largely they only tackle the "results" end. There are a lot of assumptions being made in the conversation so far, and I think what is needed is much better analysis of the development, thinking and conditions that lead to the problems. Then education, local planning, psychology and medicine could play useful roles in prevention as well.
Gill, Wales

A code of law does nothing to prevent "anti-social behaviour". The law would only magnify the mischief into fear and hate. It is about time that the parents take responsibility for their children- so the children have not even the thought to do such things.
Alex H, USA

I live on an estate of new, private houses. Most of which are not cheap. The children around here most certainly do not come from deprived social groups. Yet there is still vandalism (e.g. a new children's playground that was badly damaged within weeks, a mural in an underpass - in itself a sop to graffiti - being destroyed days after completion) caused in part by their boredom, but in the main due to their being idle, indolent and indulged by their parents.
They have a combination of too much time and too much money on their hands, and parents who complain like mad when their little darling is caught (on those rare occasions) by a PC when up to mischief. The authorities should come down hard both on these children and even more so on their parents. Yes shame them, embarrass them and humiliate them. They might then take responsibility for what their offspring get up to.
John, Ipswich, UK

There are too many uninvolved parents out there Sally, UK

My teenage daughter takes dance classes, violin lessons and plays sport. She makes excellent marks and is well liked by her peers. I see some of her friends who are bored and have too much time on their hands. I wonder what they are doing while my daughter is busy with her activities. I do know that their parents very often have no idea where they are or what they are doing. I could never be such an uninvolved parent. The need for an Anti-Social Behaviour Act tells me that there are too many uninvolved parents out there.
Sally, UK

Our area in Merseyside is very short of police officers, especially at the weekend when officers are sent to St Helens or Liverpool to cope with town centre trouble. In the meantime crime is rife. Our Police Station closes in the evening and police have to travel from as far as Whiston, a journey of at least 20 minutes by the time they get here the thieves are well away. Until they address the problem of police resources other measures are meaningless.
Joan Crossland, England

There is no way that anti-social behaviour in those who perpetrate it now, can be stopped. The key is to focus on the younger generations - much younger - educate them and their parents and prevent these behaviour patterns from ever emerging. This would take a lot of time and effort, but in the end it would be worth it.
ASD, UK

People do not feel part of a community anymore. It doesn't matter if you drop litter or smash a phone box, there is no connection with the rest of the community - in fact there is no community! That is the fundamental problem with this country.
Peter Robinson, England

Too often we hear excuses about parenting and life history Richard, England

I was fatherless at the age of 12 yet made no excuses and got on with my own life by taking control. Too often we hear excuses about parenting and life history but when do we hear about those who also had it hard but made what they could of a bad start? If we only got over the fact that, yes life is hard, but you are the one who has control over the final outcome.
Richard, England

I really agree with Richard, England. I too have friends who are lovely, decent individuals just getting on with life, even though they were not dealt the best of cards to start with. It's time liberal do-gooders stopped grasping for excuses for other people's poor behaviour and society began to look after normal, law-abiding citizens for a change.
Maria, England

I'm puzzled by these statements that children have 'nowhere to go'. In my contacts with home schoolers and on the internet I have become aware of a wealth of clubs, for sports and all interests. Is the problem not rather that too many young people have no interests, possibly because an excess of electronic entertainment has taught them to be passive consumers of amusement? It's all too true that 'boring people get bored'.
Patti, Zimbabwe

I've just left my teens (thankfully) and I never got involved in such behaviour but I was bored too. However, I found interests like going to the cinema, doing homework (now that's an idea, eh?) and helping around the house. It isn't discipline these kids need and it isn't more for them to do either; it's the need to learn about respect.
Donna, London, UK

Such a pity that it has come to this. The answer, as always, is education and awareness. There are those who argue that you can't teach compassion, kindness and consideration for others, but I beg to differ.
Darab Khan, London, UK

Darab Khan: They have an education, they have awareness. I don't believe there is a single vandal who doesn't know that what they're doing is illegal and causes others grief. Education and awareness have nothing to do with it. They still take fully conscious decisions to commit these illegal acts. The cause is their mind. They have full control of the mind that instructs the body to smash a window, vandalise a phone etc. We, the community, don't control their mind. Therefore we must remove them from the society in which they are incapable of living peacefully. If they do it three times, I'm 100% happy that this removal should be for good.
Barbara Chadwick, UK

Give them something to excel at and take pride in themselves and their future Anna Taylor, UK

Unfortunately, the problem lies with the parents, not the children. Poor parenting results in thugs roaming the streets with no direction in their lives. Keep your children busy with organised activities, starting from a very young age with music, dance, athletics and they won't have time to get into trouble. Give them something to excel at and take pride in themselves and their future. I guarantee it works, every time.
Anna Taylor, UK

Easy - stop people saying that the police are infringing their human rights every time they are caught in an act of wrong-doing. I blame the lawyers - cos they have made the police scared to carry out their work.
Robbie, UK

Better policing will only result in treating the problem and not tackling the cause. Many children today do not know right from wrong, and unfortunately have parents who think that the only crime that their children have committed is getting caught.
Philip, UK

I am a social worker who works with juvenile offenders here in the US. In nearly ten years in this field, I have observed that only a small fraction of offenders are truly "Conduct Disordered," or "Anti-social." The lion's share of offenders are decent young men and women who, at present, lack specific skills relative to problem-solving and decision-making. These individuals need regular and frequent skills training in stopping and thinking through their actions before acting - especially when they are bored, angry, insecure etc.
Adam C, USA

A curfew for the under 17s should be instated Pheona Speirs, Scotland

All the anti social behaviour that takes place in my local community, occurs in the wee small hours. Why are these children not at home? Who should be keeping an eye on them? Do there parents know they are out wandering the streets? A curfew for the under 17s should be instated. Anyone under this age should provide evidence of why they are out of their homes and if no good reason given, should be escorted home.
Pheona Speirs, Scotland

So kids hang around "cos we got nuffin to do" When I was a kid we managed to entertain ourselves without resorting to the sort of behaviour we see now. Lack of Parental discipline and lack of respect for authority
Nick S, UK

"Our youth love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority, and disrespect for their people. Children nowadays are tyrants. They no longer rise when their elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble their food and tyrannize their teachers".
Socrates, 5th Centruy BC

Every generation has exaggerated the bad behaviour of its youth. I suspect that this extension of powers is a PR exercise which will not affect the perception of youth behaviour.
Diana, London, UK

Although I do think that the law is often too light on offenders, we should look first to the cause of the problem, not simply deal with the result of the problem. It cannot be denied that the provision for places for youngsters to meet are next to non-existent these day. Is it any wonder that large groups of youths gather on the streets and take whatever entertainment they can find, unfortunately for some this means anti-social behaviour.
Matt BW, Warwickshire, UK

Why oh why is boredom given as an excuse for antisocial behaviour? It is no justification. I was often bored as a youngster but didn't resort to graffiti, vandalism or intimidating members of the public. I read a book, or went swimming and such like. Even bored people should know right from wrong.
Claire, UK

The problem of anti-social behaviour stems from the way how the present society evolves and functions. Remove all the violent movies and playstations from the reach of the youth. Teach good morals already when the children start in their elementary schools. The Most important thing being educate the parents to be good model for their children. It sounds utopian but there is no other way!
Srinivasan Toft, Denmark

The solution is simple, the police should arrest these kids and make them spend the night in jail, if they do it again then they should be made to clean up the streets and if they do it a third time then they should be locked up.
Bill, UK

There is a whole section of criminal and civil law that should be redefined and included in the scope of Anti Social Behaviour. Apart from the obvious ones being mentioned there are others like Speeding, using bus lanes, parking, driving without insurance /tax, littering areas (by big business not just individuals), fiddling income and other taxes and benefits. Everyone guilty of these types of crimes has shown Anti Social Behaviour and should have to undertake community work (as well as a fine/jail sentence) in order to remove the Anti Social Tag that should be assigned to them.
Roy Sheward, UK

Sometimes tough love is the only way to restore any love in society Daniel, UK

The only way these thugs will learn respect is when they're forced to, I'm as liberal minded as anyone but I've become convinced that discipline, sometimes even harsh discipline, is natural for a child's upbringing. A degree of fear of authority and chastisement is necessary for children to develop an understanding of consequences. What a person gets from a healthy capacity for respect of others is immense. Sometimes tough love is the only way to restore any love in society.
Daniel, UK

The answer is obvious: link the crime with the penalty directly. The criminal must pay for absolutely every single step that is required to remedy their crime to the state it was as if they had not acted. If this means all their possessions are confiscated and sold to raise the money to re-build a wall they have smashed into, then it must be done. At the moment there is no link - a crime is committed, they're put away (at our expense, not theirs) for a few weeks or months, then they're out. The community is left to pick up the pieces, paying for it all the way. Enough now - make the criminals pay.
Nat, UK

Until real punishment is reintroduced into schools and homes, the youth of today, and tomorrow, will live their lives fearing nothing and nobody. It's very nice to say 'we shouldn't be so primitive as to actually beat our children' but it has worked for thousands of years and taught respect to children. Since it was stopped this country has bred a generation of yobs who respect nothing and nobody! Not even themselves. Bring back the cane in schools.
Paul Burgess, England

I agree with passing a law for specific acts of vandalism or harassment. However, passing a vague, undefined law opens the door for misuse by the authorities.
Calista, UK

Whenever I've seen youngsters asked to give a reason for what they can do, the answer is always the same - 'I don't know'. Could it be that Endless television channels and computer games have rendered our children incapable of using their own minds and finding their own inspiration and motivation in life? Could it also be the reason for poor performance at school? The rot set in twenty or so years ago and now these people have children of their own and no social or academic skills to raise them with.
Jenny Barton, Kent

Why oh why do we have to have ANOTHER law? Why not just exercise the existing laws that let police arrest and scare the living daylights out of yobs. Oh, I see, because the police are terrified someone will sue them for "infringing the youngsters rights" What a terrific country we are breeding: the citizen immune to authority.
Paul Burgess, England

Kids are like this because we, the previous generation, have failed them Andy, UK

Kids are like this because we, the previous generation, have failed them. Amongst us are parents who have to work long hours and spend no time at home, or unemployed and kick our kids into the street when we've had enough of them. I think maybe taking a little time to get to know them, take interest in the youth of today and understand the pressures of what its like to be a teenager today. If we consign them to the bin, what hope is there for the next again generation?
Andy, UK

I agree with those who say that there is no effective deterrent today against anti-social behaviour. The so-called extreme left wing 'do-gooders' in society who are apologists for all criminals and yobs have ensured that they have got their way by abolishing corporal punishment in schools and zero tolerance on bad behaviour. Parents should also face the wrath of justice when their offspring misbehave. These are the animals who are to blame for the break down in society and they are just as guilty as the criminals are. Lock them up as well as the criminals.
C Beaven, UK

Get people out of cars and onto their feet. These days it's possible for close neighbours to live in isolation. People don't meet or talk.
Joe RYAN, France

Zero tolerance is what is needed. It is time to get hard with these people and their parents. Bring back corporal punishment in schools, community work such as cleaning walls covered by spray paints, street cleaning and put these people in the public spotlight to be humiliated. And if that fails, imprisonment
Nigel, England

The best idea would be to make them DO something that would fix what they did. When I was younger I got caught throwing eggs at houses, the police made us clean it up, and then clean the rest of the guys yard. It worked, we never did it again.
Tom, England

I think the age group should be extended to younger members of society. Would stop anti-social habits developing at a young age.
Ros, UK

Let's have a little more discipline in the home from children's' formative ages. Anti social behaviour wasn't the problem it is now when I was a child - because myself and my peers were subjected to discipline from our parents. No discipline = anti social behaviour.
Maxine, Peterborough, UK

I wish these politicians would move into the real world for a change Mike, Nottingham

Yet again, the police are being given a greater burden without the extra funding or help. And if you disperse a crowd, you aren't solving the problem, just moving it elsewhere. I wish these politicians would move into the real world for a change.
Mike, Nottingham

Anti-social behaviour, there is a house full of this. It's the Houses of Parliment .
Clive, Dartfor,UK

The problem with British society today is that most people's heads are filled with what they think are their rights. But many people have long forgotten about their responsibilities.
Jon, Suffolk

Children go through life knowing that they can no longer be effectively disciplined by anyone, beginning in the home. Until parental control and discipline is restored no half hearted measures are going to be effective. If the kids don't respect parents, teachers and the police what respect is someone who is a cross between a part-time constable and a traffic warden going to get?
Derek, Fortress England

Laws and police numbers will do little to change things if people don't report the crimes in the first place. Police need a leg-up to catch drug dealers and others who cause anti-social behaviour, but no-one sticks their head above the parapet. It has been shown where people group together and not resort to vigilantiism, results can happen.
Frank, Scotland

They're nice ideas and I hope they help. I do feel, however, that until the police are in a position to have a notable presence on the streets of Britain then there will be nobody to enforce this.
Rob Slater, UK

More activities and amenities for the community would help in both the long and the short-term David Rainford, Manchester, England

If children had more to occupy their minds rather than boredom, the problems would lessen. A government and local authority programme ensuring more activities and amenities for the community would help in both the long and the short-term. Quick-fix punishments will not make the problem go away.
David Rainford, Manchester, England

Is it not just a case of lack of discipline in all areas of life? When growing up I had a healthy fear of the establishment and for that matter my parents.
Brian, UK

It depends. A few youths waitng on a street for a friend to arrive is sometimes seen as anti social. A few adults waiting in a pub for a friend to arrive isn't. So as long as it is not targetted at these people I would agree with it
Chris, UK

It's simply a fact that the young people today have nowhere to go anymore. We had youth clubs, coffee bars, local dances, then a walk round the local park and home, school the next day or if you were seventeen or so, to work. Jobs were easys to come by, we all had them and that is where we learned respect as teenagers.
J. Walker, England

Young people who want to better themselves by studying at university are expected to pay. Similarly young people who want to cause nuisance and destruction should be expected to pay, in full, for the damage they cause, and the policing required to bring them to justice. The tax and social security systems should be used to make sure that this payment is made in full when the criminal starts working or tries to claim benefit.
Albert, UK

It sounds a tad scary to me. The thing that could prove problematic is what or who defines what anti-social behaviour is? Today, it might be throwing firecrackers in a crowd of people. Tomorrow it could be someone who says something that is "political incorrect". I see a very slippery slope here.
Monica, USA

It's very interesting to read all the comments posted and quite saddening that so many adults in our country have such limited understanding of the young people of whom they speak. Those working at the coal face with young people know that the underlying issues are far reaching and quite complex and that the emphasis should not be on further punitive measures which have a limited effect, rather restorative justice, quality social education in schools and a need to address the real issues of social deprivation.
Steven Do-gooder, UK

Trying to stop anti-social behaviour is like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. You have to address the root cause i.e. lack of parental control or discipline. We are now (and will continue to) reaping the harvest of ineffectual liberal policies which have permeated into family life in certain quarters. Combine this with Political Correctness and you have a recipe which produces social antagonism and unrest. We get the society that society deserves.
Chris, U.K.

Blunkett, misses the point, I am far from being a liberal and live in a very pleasant village but I still see groups of youngsters hanging out in large groups by the village shops. Is it because they have bad parents or are naturally delinquent, I think not. They are just like young people throughout the country from all backgrounds that are simply bored.
There are no associations or after school clubs for these youngsters to be involved with whether they be sporting or arts or anything. It is time we invested in our youth and provided them with extra curricular activities which will be beneficial to all and probably much cheaper than hiring endless security guards and council staff to designate 'hot-spots'.
Russell H, UK

More Police, better laws, tougher CPS, anything else is a waste of time.
Toby Cockburn, UK

More papering over the cracks Ron Levy, UK

Hmm. More papering over the cracks. The simple truth is that the vandals and thugs are just not afraid of the legal system. Even in the unlikely event that they are caught, the slap on the wrist backed up by a miniscule fine (which they will never pay), simply does not deter them. We need to instigate harsh prison sentences for all repeat offenders, even for vandalism, with a reduced lower age limit. This may not "cure" those already like this, but it will keep them away from us and will deter others.
Ron Levy, UK

Anti-social behaviour is a by product of the modern age, and as such is not exclusive to Britain. The result of the pressure on children to conform to images for which they are not adequately equipped, it occurs wherever parents don't have the skills, and/or inclination to guide their children through life. This applies to middle-class areas as well the slums.
R Buxton, UK

I agree something has to be done about anti-social behaviour, and we should be strict with offenders, but we have to be careful not to tarnish all youths with the same brush. Just because a group of kids are hanging about in a park or outside some shops it doesn't mean they are up to no good. I believe many are there because they have nowhere else to go. They want to be social, but don't have any money, so they simply meet up somewhere. They are inevitably going to smoke and drink, as that is the example society sets to them.

Don't get me wrong there are a lot of kids out there that need to be punished for bad behaviour, but let's not generalise about all youths on the street and increase the ever widening gap of understanding between our children and us. We must work a solution from both ends, enforcement as well as providing alternatives.
Phil, London, UK

Get tough with these louts. Replicate the zero tolerance scenario they had in New York. Publicly embarrass perpetrators.
Garry, UK

Another step backwards, or should that be "yet another". The powers that be seems determined to remove almost all responsibility and authority from a waning police service and creating a power vacuum where the law is being exploited. Having relatives that work within the police force and close friends in the education service as well as witnessing the day-to-day degradation of social behaviour it is clear to see that power needs to be restored to the following key areas: schools, police and courts. Power is being slowly stripped away and it will take a lot more than security guards acting above their post to remove the damage done.
Christopher Hogarty, UK

Unless the attitudes of alienation of lack of respect are tackled we will always be chasing the problem Lee B, Eastbourne, UK

Tougher policing would be a welcome move but this can only go so far. Unless the attitudes of alienation of lack of respect are tackled we will always be chasing the problem. I would like to see schools including "lessons in life" in the curriculum. Money skills, life issues, moral values and a sense of identity are important lessons to learn.
Lee B, Eastbourne, UK

Each week we here about more and more penalties for car drivers who break the law. These penalties are collected with vigour. If fines (and punishments) were of a similar scale in other cases of criminal behaviour and were collected with the same vigour would we have so much crime? The failure of law and order in general in this country is the lack of law enforcement not the lack of laws.Was it not reported recently on the BBC that 90% of criminal fines go uncollected? In closing how does an area become a hot spot?
Phil, Cardiff, UK

For as long as I can remember young teenagers have congregated together at night. It is the beginning of their move towards independence from their parents. The vast majority are not involved in anti-social behaviour. What we should be concentrating on are those few young criminals who terrorise whole neighbourhoods through intimidation and vandalism. This catch-all scheme will do very little to remove the real problem. Realistically it is unenforceable.
Bob, UK

We have a massive problem in our area with anti social behaviour - gangs of lads roaming the streets at night dealing drugs, vandalising cars and walls, blowing up anything they can find with fireworks. When the police do eventually turn up (and this only happens on occasion) they stand there gloating as there is nothing that can be done to stop them. The council are now bringing in a new system of gated alleyways that only the residents will have keys to. So now thanks to these good for nothing louts we are to live in Fort Knox. Any measures would be welcomed in our area!
Carolyne, Manchester, England

Fines are a waste of time unless backed up by other measures. The sort of people involved are beyond the normal justice system. Conventional approaches don't work on them. Instead of on the spot fines impound or confiscate things that they value e.g their mobile phone, motors cycle/car, tv, club membership etc. just as bailiffs do. Also, regardless of age, they have to be publicly named so that the displeasure of just society can be put upon them.
Michael, UK

Time and time again we have been told that "anti-social" measures will be taken. All that ever happens is that the politically-correct brigade leap in to protect the offenders, the police are terrified to do anything, and the victims are left with the bills! A clip round the ear, a night in a very uncomfortable cell, preferably with nothing to eat or drink, might be a deterrent. However, chances are nothing will happen. Oh, to be in France or Spain where there is a continual, visible, police presence!
Sue Hudson, London, UK

Anti-social behaviour is ingrained deeply in society now and will need consistent action to improve it Deb, UK

As long as these powers are backed up by police and court action we will have a start. Anti-social behaviour is ingrained deeply in society now and will need consistent action to improve it. A lot of it is a parenting issue with not enough done at home but schools need to take the blame also, along with the 'do-gooders' and the police and courts. Zero tolerance, that will sort out our society and nothing less will do.
Deb, UK

David Blunkett has finally done something useful. At last, a stop to those people who insist on setting off fireworks... terribly annoying.
Jim, UK

Fines should be accompanied by useful community service orders and if necessary, imprisonment. The law is far too soft on offenders who seem to have endless rights and who are protected by the 'victim of society' liberal argument.
Mary, London

So new powers will be given to security guards amongst others? Isn't this just an excuse for relieving the police of even more responsibility? Sure it should be the whole judicial system that should be under review for letting these thugs off with little but a slap on the wrist?
S. Barton, UK

Nobody is above the law Stuart, UK

Look, this is yet another proposal, It's simple, nobody is above the law, age, colour or creed. If you break the law, or are acting/behaving anti-socially etc, then you'll be punished to the full letter of the law. Oh yes and the punishment must fit the crime. If these louts, criminals can't abide by the rules/laws, then they must not be protected by the law.
Stuart, UK

Good idea Mr Blunkett - as long as the council hot spots don't include outside the council offices where people are protesting. As far as accredited private security firms go, why don't you employ more regular police officers?
Peter Berry, Portsmouth, UK

The parents of these children didn't get the proper discipline either so the problem continues through the generations. We have the political correctness lobby to thank for removing corporal punishment from schools of course - utter madness.
Mike Hall, UK

I think this is just going to lead to more animosity between young people and the police and an increased perception of the police "wasting time when they should be dealing with real crimes". Whilst the notion of "name and shame" sounds promising, the thought of dispersing people who have committed no crime, who just happen to be standing around in an area of town seems like totalitarianism to me.
Darren Coleman, Westbury, UK

If we don't invest in the UK's young generations I fear that anti-social behaviour will get far, far worse Roger, England

Here we go again. More laws, less justice. Why doesn't anyone from New Labour actually step out of their ivory tower and have a good hard look at the UK? Anti-social behaviour is the end result of the lack of interest in the UK's population by politicians. They are too interested in overseas glory on the international stage to be effective at home on the domestic stage. Invest in the UK's young people, give them a future, give them the resources to do something constructive, show them that they are important to all our future - instead of leaving them to their own devices, fuelled by American rap, fast food and Playstations. If we don't invest in the UK's young generations I fear that anti-social behaviour will get far, far worse.
Roger, England

It's easy. Make the perpetrators clean the streets of litter and dog faeces and graffiti wearing bright orange suits in the areas where they live. Anti-social won't last long and think of how nice Britain can look without all the rubbish.
Paul Cater, England

This is not at all what is needed. In most cases both the police and the residents know who has committed anti-social crimes. The problem is that the police and the legal system do not punish these crimes with the result that there is no deterrent. The system is rife with hang-wringing do-gooders who are led a merry dance. It's time for zero tolerance. Yes, people should have a chance to reform, but only the one or two. We have persistent offenders who are given chance after chance and it has to stop.
Phillip Holley, Cambs