Huge increase in use of anti-yob measures

The war on anti-social behaviour led by Tony Blair and David Blunkett has escalated dramatically, figures obtained by the Evening Standard show today.

In London, more court orders have been handed out to offenders in the past six months than in the previous five years.

The number of anti-social behaviour orders, or Asbos, enforced in the capital has leapt from 154 at the start of the year to 393 today, according to council tallies.

Nationwide the total is estimated at 3,000 as their use has gone well beyond what the Government originally had in mind when they were introduced in 1998. Intended to combat hooliganism and vandalism by youths, Asbos are now being taken out by councils to deal with the widest imaginable range of anti-social behaviour.

They have been used against crack addicts, prostitutes, aggressive beggars, flyposters and animal rights extremists. Orders ban individuals from particular areas or activities. Breaches can bring prison terms of up to five years, even for offences not normally serious enough to warrant custody.

Today the Home Office hailed the escalation as a success. But civil liberties groups complained that the orders are issued in civil courts, where the burden of proof is lower than the "beyond reasonable doubt" test used by magistrates and juries.

And it is not yet clear whether Asbos clean up problems or simply move them on.

One in five people issued with Asbos in London has been punished for breaching the terms.

Home Office researchers warned this year of "lack of police priority" to enforce the orders and pointed to a "perception ... that breaches are not being treated seriously by the courts".

But the Government's British Crime Survey showed last month that fear of yobs is down. Only 16 per cent of the public said there was a lot of antisocial behaviour locally, down from 21 per cent a year ago. In London, complaints of local "disorder" slumped from 34 per cent to 25 per cent.

Louise Casey, director of the Home Office anti-social behaviour unit, said: "We've given police, local authorities and frontline workers the powers to tackle anti-social behaviour.

We are pleased to see they are being used throughout London."

Metropolitan Police chiefs predict further acceleration as more wardens go out on local beats and as ties strengthen between town halls and Scotland Yard.