What are anti-social behaviour orders?

Anti-social behaviour orders are civil orders granted by a court to protect the public from behaviour that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. An ASBO may be made on any person aged 10 or over who has acted, without reasonable excuse, in an anti-social manner.

An ASBO lists what a person must not continue to do eg writing graffiti, kerb crawling, verbally abusing other people, throwing missiles; the order may also prohibit the individual from entering specified areas where they have acted anti-socially, or prohibit the individual from associating with named persons with whom they have acted in an anti-social manner or from gathering in groups.

They do not punish for past behaviour, they prohibit that behaviour from continuing in the future in order to protect those who have suffered from it, and to give the individual with the order the opportunity to break the pattern of their anti-social behaviour.

The police, NI Housing Executive or district councils may apply to the magistrates' court for an ASBO. The criminal courts may also make an ASBO in addition to a sentence or conditional discharge where an individual is convicted of a criminal offence.

An ASBO lasts for a minimum of 2 years.

If someone with an ASBO adheres to its terms there are no further consequences. If someone with an ASBO breaches any of the terms of the order it is a criminal offence. An ASBO provides a clear and enforceable boundary on what is acceptable behaviour, with clear consequences for breaking the order.