Violent Crime Reduction Bill hands out new summary powers to PC's

Alvaro Gil-Robles, the Council of Europe's commissioner for human rights, said: "It is difficult to avoid the impression that the ASBO is being touted as a miracle cure for urban nuisance.

"It is to be hoped this burst of Asbo-mania will quieten down , and that it’s use will be limited to appropriate and serious cases, where no other means of intervention might succeed."

"Responsible guidelines and realistic rhetoric is required, however, for this to happen. It is also open to question whether children receiving ASBOSs should be named."(Please note that on this site no photographs of ASBO offenders have been used - although this is common practice in the National Press, including children as young as 10 - in future we will refrain from giving the full names of offenders)

He is quoted in today's Daily Telegraph saying this after details of the Violent Crime Reduction Bill (announced in the Queen's Speech) were published last night by Hazel Blears (see pic).

Police are to be given unprecedented powers to ban individuals from town centres and other locations for up to 48 hours in the latest Government attempt to get to grips with alcohol-fuelled violence and anti-social behaviour.

Under the proposed new law, Police Constables will be able to issue a written exclusion notice to anyone considered to represent a "risk of disorder", even if they are not drunk or have committed no offence.

Hazel Blears, the Home Office minister, conceded that disorder zones and banning orders were a last resort for dealing with a problem that police fear will worsen when flexible drinking hours - including the potential for 24-hour opening - are introduced in England and Wales in November.

She said the prohibition notices, which will carry a £2,500 fine, were intended to send out a "short, sharp" message to young people to behave better.

Those familiar with the history of attempts to control youth crime will be familiar with Borstals (the name of the village in Kent, site of the original establishment)introduced in 1908. In 1982 they were all closed down, and had been replaced by Youth Detention Centres, with fixed term sentences. These had a much tougher régime, called a "short, sharp, shock". However, re-offending rates from these places was just as high as from Borstals.

For comment on Gil Robles report and comments see Shami Chakrabarti Director Liberty in Guradian today