Compulsory parenting classes and eviction threats are amongst other measures to be included in the new crackdown.

Ministers claim that the plans will rehabilitate the country's worse nuisance families but opposition parties say that they are a gimmick and will move problems elsewhere.

Do you agree with the government's proposals? Have Asbos made a difference? Do the measures go far enough? Send us your comments and experiences.

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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

ASBOs are another toothless example of gesture politics masquerading as "law enforcement". My local paper is reporting stories of ASBOs issued for breach of previous ASBOs. What a waste of everyone's time!
Stephen Brooks, York, England

The people who commit these offences are guilty of affray, vandalism, GBH, ABH and harassment. We have perfectly good laws to deal with every one of these, so what on Earth are we doing messing about with ASBOs etc? A complete and utter waste of time!
A. Hewlett, Manchester, England

In my village the "family from Hell" are a middle aged couple in a million pound house, with a combined income of over �250,000 per year. He keeps us all awake at night revving the engine of his tuned Aston Martin, and occasionally renders our quiet roads unusable by racing his rich mates up and down the village high street. She regularly holds late night drunken parties, with music so loud it can be heard nearly a mile away, and laser accompaniment that lights up the night-time sky as if it were high noon! As far as I'm aware, these people have never received a single visit from the police, despite numerous complaints. However, if a couple of the local teenagers dare to congregate anywhere in public for a chat or to kick a ball around, you can guarantee that a Police patrol car will roll up and move them on. Double standards, or what?
John, England

Bad parenting is the cause of the problem and it is this that should be tackled. Communities must have more support to 'self police' in addition to the police having their hands untied when dealing with these people. It's going to take a long time to sort the problem out - if it's possible at all.
X, Staffs, UK

Frankly I fail to see how telling someone who has consistently failed to behave themselves to once again behave themselves or else is ever going to work. Parenting classes are a great idea, but teaching of citizenship and respect for others should start in school, rather than the teaching of rights without responsibility.
Steve, England

Statistics show that two-thirds of ASBOs work yet we only hear some quarters moaning about the one-third that don't Martin, UK

Another serving police officer here who has successfully obtained ASBOs, closed down crack houses and had areas designated as dispersal/curfew zones. All new laws and all which have benefited the community I serve. I welcome these measures and if they are as effective as the interventions I have utilised so far then communities countrywide will benefit. Statistics show that two-thirds of ASBOs work yet we only hear some quarters moaning about the one-third that don't. If not working is the subject being arrested and detained then in my opinion thats a success too. In either case communities are getting respite from the behaviour of those concerned. An ASBO is not a conviction and as long as its conditions are adhered to there will never be any further punishment...
Martin, UK

As an expat for over thirty years, I am appalled to read about the behaviour of UK's young people. The fabric of British society has more than unravelled, it has perished. Law abiding folks should not have to suffer such behaviour. I propose stiff sentencing, fines, and rehabilitation in the form of community cleaning tasks, the supervision to be paid for by the perpetrator's parents.
Laura Haker, USA

As an ex-police officer recently retired and been involved in several enquiries to establish evidence for a case to proceed to court. You will find that they need a mountain of evidence to proceed to court as they are too worried about losing a case than helping the complainant that is the true reason behind lots of the actions not getting to court.
L Jones, Wales

Anti-social behaviour is a direct result of the welfare dependency culture Roger, Stockport, England

Anti social behaviour is a direct result of the welfare dependency culture. Kids on estates see that their parents are housed and paid even if they make no effort in life. No wonder they are anti social with such role models. Make the parents work at menial jobs for their benefits and the kids may make an effort to better themselves.
Roger, Stockport, England

Why is there always a desire to bring in reactive policies? For once politicians should honour a "pledge" and put police on the street, on foot not in cars, thereby providing a visible deterrent against anti-social behaviour. It is this obsession with targets that mean the police only get a "tick" once a crime is committed not prevented.
Jim Kirk, UK

They will work. We have community police officers on our estate and there is scarcely a yob to be seen. Add the ASBOs and life should be worth living again.
Msmo, London UK

Here is a simple solution - link benefit payments to good behaviour. That'd get the attention of the majority of the parents of those committing anti-social behaviour and may just cause them to care.
D, Newcastle

So many promises - there must be an election looming Rob, UK

So many promises - there must be an election looming! ASBOs may work if correctly enforced, which means having the staff available to deal with the situation. Some local authorities are recruiting "ASBO Officers" to reduce the burden on the Police, but they won't have the same powers as police officers, and unfortunately serial offenders probably won't be deterred.
Rob, UK

ASBO's are a useful mechanism to help with those who just will not respect their communities. However, they need to be carefully controlled. Imagine how, with quite minor adjustments, they could work in unforeseen ways to assist a less than democratic government: "Anti Social" can assume gargantuan dimensions.
Antony Carter, UK

Labour isn't interested in law and order. When my lodger stole my credit card, his fine was less than the money he spent - so he made a profit! Hugely typical of our soft justice system - it hardly seemed worth the bother of catching the ratbag in the first place.
James Murphy, Dorset, UK

The Asbo would not be necessary at all if a visible police presence was maintained at all times in troubled areas Lloyd Evans, UK

This government seems to be obsessed with cost-cutting. Therefore it should have dawned on them by now that the original purpose of the police force - crime prevention by visible policing - costs far less and involves much less irksome paperwork than simply responding to crime once it has happened. The Asbo would not be necessary at all if a visible police presence was maintained at all times in troubled areas.
Lloyd Evans, UK

Asbos are supposed to be a last resort - not a standard response to bad parenting and too much political correctness. Children need discipline and hard work to prepare them for life ahead. Sport is a great way to instil such qualities into a child.
Gary Usborne, UK

It's no good relying on the police and government to solve anti-social problems. The solution is all about family, friends and neighbours sticking together to create stronger communities
John, Oxford

Laws have been in place for decades Gerry Noble, Salisbury, UK

These 'crackdowns' are just initiatives to get the police and councils to do the jobs they are already paid to do. Laws have been in place for decades. Trouble is, nobody wants to stick their neck out and use them!
Gerry Noble, Salisbury, UK

The kids that cause so much damage along with their parents should have lessons in 'consequences' and 'cause and effect'. They need to be shown what a hasty mindless act can lead to. An angry brick thrown in haste has a number of consequences and repercussions that can go on for days, months, years depending on the reaction it gets. I think lessons in consequences should be taught in every school to every child. Act in haste, repent at leisure as they say..
Roger Thomas, UK

Anti-social behaviour is now so wide spread that any reasonable measures should be tried and tested. If they work, then great. If they don't let's try other ideas but lets not beat up the policy makers who have got a very hard job in this area...
Lisa Burt, Isle of Wight

ASBO add the letters after the persons name, every delinquents must have accessory Martyn Howie, Scotland

ASBO add the letters after the persons name, every delinquents must have accessory! Punish those perpetrating the crime. Too much of the no blame attached to the 'young people' committing these acts of urban terrorism. Answer send their parents on a parenting course, fine parents for truancy, the culprits should be made to pay not someone else. Although the Justice system in Scotland is separate from England, the same ethos prevails. Certain young people know they can get away with crime and antisocial behaviour and there isn't a blind thing the courts police or parents can do to stop them. This Government has seen to that.
Martyn Howie, Scotland

Surrey police had a zero tolerance policy announcement in the autumn. There was a more visible police presence for about a month, but it didn't seem to reduce antisocial behaviour. It was more like an incentive to the trouble makers to see what they could get away with. Now there is minimal police presence again and it is worse than ever. The police are no longer keen to fill out reports, so I suspect only the major incidents are fully reported. ASBOs can only be effective if antisocial behaviour is logged and the offenders identified.
Adam K, UK

ASBOs are a useful tool in this fight, but what is really needed is the Police to do their job! I, for one, am sick and tired of hearing the same old pathetic excuse "we haven't got the resources!" If I tried telling that to my local council about paying my Council Tax, you can imagine what the response would be!
Alan Hall, UK

Who pays for all this? The people who obey the law and pay tax, of course...
Lucy Bird, Southampton, Hants.

Older citizens should exercise a little more tolerance on occasions Jack, Edinburgh, Scotland

Why can't ASBOs be extended to those so-called 'members of the community' who called the police to move on my sister and her friends from a park in the city (where I might add, no drinking or even smoking was taking place). I'm not saying there are no yobs out there making life miserable, I just think older citizens should exercise a little more tolerance on occasions. There are more important things the police have to do.
Jack, Edinburgh, Scotland

I don't suppose that my Essex village differs greatly from small communities nationally. We are plagued by gangs of abusive lager-swilling teenagers, of both sexes, mostly in the 13-17 age group and usually between 7 and 11 pm. Where are our ASBOs? Well, to serve an ASBO requires a policeman, and villages under a certain population do not warrant a regular police presence - the kids know that. Where are the parents then? Well, they're indoors swilling lager, enjoying their nightly satellite fodder, free of irksome parental responsibility.
Philip, Essex

Phillip, Essex, I for one, would like to know who is serving lager to "13-17 age group"? Seems to me this is the problem. Instead of serving an ASBO, the policeman should be arresting the teen for underage drinking and the barman for serving them. When will we start addressing the root of the problem instead of addressing the results?
Sarah, Devon, UK

If they would just enforce the laws they already have and mete out punishment when it is justified, they wouldn't need any of this. If they won't enforce the laws, what difference would this make since it won't be enforced either.
Mark, USA

I live in a town where one of the 10 ASB action zones has been under trial K, UK

I live in a town where one of the 10 ASB action zones has been under trial. What appears to have happened is that the anti-social behaviour has been displaced away from the action zones and into the surrounding residential areas. The escalation in unruly youth gangs and the associated violence, graffiti and damage to cars and properties in previously unaffected residential roads has coincided with the crackdowns in specific areas in the town.

The newly appointed community police officer has conceded that there is little he can do but give certain roads a temporary break from the problems. ASBOs seem to have been used sparingly, presumably because of the bureaucracy involved and the difficulty to pin down the youths in areas outside the action zones. The government will claim the initiative a success as ASBO levels within the action zones will have undoubtedly fallen, but the reality is that the problems have been shifted elsewhere.
K, UK

I think ASBOs are a good start, however, the real issue needs to be addressed. Why do these individuals behave the way they do? It would seem that it is a cultural issue which, stems from bad parenting and a lack of responsibility. We are very quick in this country to try and palm the blame on all and sundry instead of accepting responsibility for our own actions.
Chantel, UK

I have found that a threat of an ASBO is normally enough to deter any future criminal behaviour Matt, England

As a serving Police Officer, I have found that a threat of an ASBO is normally enough to deter any future criminal behaviour. A local 13 year old is subject to one which has seriously affected their life. I don't see how people experiences of the police are relevant to this discussion thread. It would be great if we could get to all the nuisance problems, unfortunately when you are told there is no one available, this means something far more grave is happening elsewhere.
Matt, England

The advantage of ASBOs is that they can be targeted towards any behaviour deemed unacceptable by a particular community. They are therefore ultimately flexible and avoid the need to create specific legislation for certain nuisances, such as persistent pigeon-feeding, which is a major nuisance in parts of central London, but less so elsewhere, I suspect.
But if a real impact is to be made on antisocial behaviour, the police need more powers and more discretion to determine what constitutes unacceptable behaviour and to impose an immediate sanction. Most anti-social behaviour stems from poor parenting - I would like to see the parents who fail to control their children be severely penalised for their lack of responsibility.
Edward Turner, UK

I live near an area in South East London where the local council and police have used ASBOs. The people in this area suffered from a few youngsters who made their lives hell but after the use of ASBOs the situation has improved immensely.
Gary G, London, UK

Neighbours from Hell will only be evicted from rented housing as far as I can tell. Those of us living next door to nightmare home-owners will still suffer. I cannot sell my own home as it is law to declare such things as noise abatement orders to potential buyers, so I am stuck with them!
P S, UK

It seems that no one likes the solution, but few seem to have offered any alternative ideas Lisa, Cambridge, UK

It seems that no one likes the solution, but few seem to have offered any alternative ideas. It's all fine to call it a waste of time or a gimmick, but come up with a better solution if you truly believe it to be the case. Personally, I'm not sure, but have no ideas myself and am interested to see how it goes.
Lisa, Cambridge, UK

ASBOs are only a short term punishment for what has become a permanent problem in our communities. Those offending persons or families end up being moved to another area of the town and more often than not re-offend in the different neighbourhood. Is this not spreading the anti-social problem rather than containing it? Unfortunately imprisonment tied with the education of parents is the only answer and if that means separating the children from their parents in the short term whilst they are all told of what is right and wrong behaviour then so be it.
I don't believe in keeping families together if it means adding to the ever-growing under-class of drug abusing, violent misfits who terrorise the rest of us with their way of life. It's pointless blaming this or any Government or local Council for this problem which has steadily been getting out of control for decades. The buck stops with the parents.
Chris W, Blackpool, England

ASBOs seem to be a useful addition to a fairly limited armoury of powers for the police, but certainly are not always the answer. Trying to make them fit every situation is not a good idea. I am dubious about compulsory parenting classes. I have had a certain amount of dealings with compulsory drug rehab courses, and they are a waste of time. Worse, they divert resources from the addicts who are interested and serious about getting help. I fail to see why parenting courses should be any more successful.
Anon, Huddersfield UK

ASBOs are making a difference to families and communities who suffer from nuisance neighbours. Well done to the Government for taking a stance.
Chris Binding, UK

Another day, another announced clampdown. We've heard it a hundred times before, but the problem remains. The answer is, assertive and visible policing, with the backing of the juvenile and criminal justice system.
David, London, England

ASBO's can be an effective and positive tool for police officers, local authorities and communities to utilise to the benefit of all. However, if a person who is the subject of an ASBO breaches it, the punishment is a possible two years imprisonment. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case, and as usual a slap on the wrist is the normal 'punishment', and the person has no more regard for the law than they did before. Magistrates should receive additional training to fully utilise the lawful punishment available to them, and should stop being so afraid to do so. Until this happens, the police will continue to arrest, CPS will continue to present cases to the court and the court will continue to impose punishments that the offenders find laughable. It's time to get tough, after all, whose rights are we safeguarding here?
E Jewell, East Sussex, UK

For ASBOs, or anything else to work, you need to get the Police to enforce them Amjad, UK

For ASBOs, or anything else to work, you need to get the Police to enforce them. Vandals have damaged my property daily for over one year causing �10K+ damage. I have repeatedly reported these incidents to the Police and they have NEVER done anything about it. So how exactly will these, or any measures work?
Amjad, UK

Another day, another initiative. In the last few weeks we have seen initiatives dealing with all manner of things including bad behaviour in the classroom, binge drinking and asylum. I wish this latest one success but do not hold out much hope.
Dave, Sheffield, UK

The cause of crime is not poverty, alienation or any other such rubbish. The cause of crime is an individual's choice to take what is not theirs, to have what they have not earned. That choice cannot be exercised if they are removed from the society in which they ruin other's lives. ASBOs thus don't go far enough and are merely cheap prisons in the community that the government doesn't have to pay for.
Patricia, Henley, UK

If it gets to a point where compulsory parenting classes are needed then it's far too late, the damage has been done and to recover from years of being a bad parent would take 100% effort from child and parent. The eviction idea is interesting but I wonder where they will re-house the people evicted - next door to the chief of Police or the local MP would be top of my list. This is just another "crackdown" that we have seen before. If you stamp on something it just spreads to other areas - deal with the cause or don't bother at all.
Neil D, UK

Rehabilitating trouble-makers is likely to create sin-bin communities. These are places where drug-related crime, burglary and violence would escalate on a truly exponential scale. Apart from this, in order to be seen acting impartially, local authorities would have to continue serving ASBOs in areas made too dangerous to effectively police. Humiliation rather than rehabilitation may be a better solution. Community offenders should be publicly nominated and made to clean streets, clear up dog mess and tidy up green spaces etc. thus giving something back to those they've robbed of the right to peace.
Patrick V. Staton, Guildford, UK

Just because you don't like something doesn't necessarily make it wrong V, England

We live in a society where unfortunately there seems to be a lack of understanding what is actually 'anti-social' & what is merely one person's interpretation of it. Just because you don't like something doesn't necessarily make it wrong. Yes some things are unacceptable, but can't we keep this to the basics, rather than demeaning the whole idea by attempting to criminalise a plethora of activities that some people just happen to dislike. We live in a varied society of views, customs & cultures. It might work better if we actually started talking with each other, making our own solutions for our own communities, rather than have draconian measures forced upon us by small minded and ignorant whingers.
V, England

To V. of England, I wonder exactly which activities which have been referred to in the posts here so far, you would consider aren't anti-social. Intimidation, window smashing, drug dealing, noise blaring out of cars all sound pretty anti-social to me - especially if the perpetrators have already been asked to stop by the community in which they live. Surely there couldn't be a clearer definition of anti-social.
ken, Bournemouth UK

The announcement today was that the Government will introduce new measures to combat anti-social behaviour, such as Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABC's), fines and parenting classes. Sorry, but these are not new. I am a Police Officer and I have issued several ABCs to many youths, some of whom abide by them and others who do not. We as the police have to go through this process to show that we have tried all possible avenues prior to applying for an ASBO. I will say that in my experience that ASBOs do seem to work and that the local community beat officer is in the perfect position to monitor the situation and deal appropriately with breaches which can result in a custodial sentence.
Rick M, UK

I feel cautiously optimistic about ASBOs and the impact they may have on nuisance neighbours. Having been exposed to relatively low level problems, I feel that any potential legal recourse is better than none at all. OK so this may move problems around but what the heck? Put them all in the same street and let them slug it out.
Dave, UK

I do not think that the ASOB will work at all. I have had to endure 5 years of anti social behaviour from several people on my street! And what can the police and council do? Nothing. This is just another farce of a law that does nothing. After all that shouting of how they are going to crack down on people that are anti-social, they have done nothing. To even get an ASBO the people who are being antisocial need to have had very many warnings. What will it take before people see that the ASBO is not working?
Mrs Chu, UK Leicester

It will work for some, but not all cases. There is never a 'one-size-fits-all' policy to serve as a solution to a problem. A problem dealt with in one neighbourhood will only be moved to another. The real solution is education and good influences in the home.
JT, Tunbridge Wells, UK

Compulsory parenting classes are just about the best idea I've heard. I've lived and worked in a number of countries, but have not seen such lazy parenting anywhere else. Too many parents prefer to loaf on the couch or down pint after pint in the local, whilst their kids are hanging about in mobs on the streets. Poor parenting causes most of the social problems these Asbos are intended to address.
Rustam Roy, London, UK

Woe betide anybody who complains or tries to stand up to the thugs Lee, England

Asbos are a TOTAL waste of time. They don't work. In my neighbourhood, which is a council estate, things are terrible. Thugs all but run the estate. Youths run riot, hanging around intimidating residents. Windows are smashed. Drug deals are done openly. Music is pounded out from cars and houses in the middle of the night. Now, who are we to turn to for help? The council? They don't want to know. The police? They never turn up when you ring them. The MP? Try getting an answer from her! Woe betide anybody who complains or tries to stand up to the thugs - you become an instant target.
Lee, England

You are joking, of course. The noisy neighbour will employ a solicitor who will defend his human rights to make noise. Failing that they will try intimidation tactics.
George Bremer

Asbos - the sweeping of a problem under a rug. It pays lip service, it claims to solve a problem, but does it? Ban a person who is intent on nuisance and mild criminality and they will commit crime and nuisance elsewhere. Typical Nimby attitude, which does not either address the cause of crime, nor does it adequately punish.
Oliver, UK

Question: Who is going to pay for these measures? Answer: The taxpayer of which the majority of the offenders are not!!
Diana Staddon, UK

Any new measure will only work if the police can be bothered to attend in the first place. Calling to report a group of youths racing three cars round the car park at the back of my house and removing bottles from the recycling bank and smashing them at midnight recently, I was told nobody was available, but they'd send someone "when they could". Nobody turned up at all.
Dan, Yateley, UK