Ian Paul Politics Show, BBC South

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The government says it wants to take a stand against "yobs"

It is, according to the Prime Minister, one of the biggest problems facing people today. Not Iraq, not the war on terror, but graffiti, litter, noisy neighbours and loitering youths.

In short, anti social behaviour.

The kind of low level criminality which makes other people's lives a misery.

According to the government, there is some sort of anti social behaviour committed every two seconds.

The government has been running "Trailblazing" schemes to fight back against the "yob culture" for the past year and has now decided to extend them to 50 more areas.

Blunt message

In the South, that means Canterbury, Dover, Hastings, Oxford, Portsmouth, Reading, Slough, Swindon, Bournemouth and Southampton.

One of the trailblazing schemes has been in Brighton; clamping down on begging and street drinking.

Sergeant Richard Siggs who is the scheme's co-ordinator gives a stark warning.

Sergeant Siggs said: "We want to send a message to all street drinkers and all the street community.

"Do not bother coming to Brighton if you are going to engage in this type of activity."

Badge of honour?

Nuisance Measures 2,633 anti-social behaviour orders used 150 crack houses closed 418 dispersal orders issued Source: Home Office figures to September 2004

Aaron Devereaux is Brighton's ASBO co-ordinator.

Aaron believes that the ASBO is just one weapon to deal with law breakers.

He acknowledges that among some young tearaways, getting an ASBO is like getting an honour.

Mr Devereaux said: "Some young people do treat that (an ASBO) as a badge of honour.

"The concept of ASBOS we are trying to pursue in Brighton, is to use it as an intervention not as a final punishment."

Fit punishment?

Anti-social behaviour can bring misery to residents

But the publicity arising from ASBOs suggest they are a, final, tough punishment.

Sometimes the punishment does not seem to fit the crime exactly.

Like the ASBO to prevent a 61-year-old from slamming his garage door and being sarcastic, or the one banning someone from wearing a golf glove.

Maybe those are just urban myths, or are they a sign that we are becoming a less tolerant society, willing to resort to the law to stamp down on behaviour that in the past would have been seen as more of a minor irritant.

Half of the 2,633 ASBOs issued last year went to the under 18s.

A third of those breached the conditions and faced prison, often for an offence that otherwise would not attract a prison sentence.

Tough on causes?

In Southampton, the council is taking a slightly different approach.

If an area seems to be suffering a lot of antisocial behaviour, they send in the Crime Reduction and Environment Week (CREW).

It is a blitz by the council's Community Safety Team, Neighbourhood Wardens and Street Cleansing Services to clean up graffiti, get rid of rubbish and remove discarded fridges.

At the same time police teams are on the lookout for teenagers involved in anti-social behaviour, truancy officers prowl the streets in search of kids skipping school, and DVLA officers do spot checks on car tax discs.

The hope is that local people will regain a pride in their community - and from the six CREWs so far, it seems to be working.

So, is the answer to get tough with the behaviour itself, or tackle the things that cause that behaviour?

Politics Show

Paul Siegert will be live at the debrief for Southampton's current CREW on BBC One on Sunday, 7 November, 2004 at 12.30pm.

Let us know what you think.

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