Asbos go green in clampdown on environmental grievances (From Gazette Series)

Asbos go green in clampdown on environmental grievances

THE Environment Agency now has the power to apply for Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) to tackle enviro-crime such as vandalism, noise nuisance and fly-tipping the Government has announced.

The move will allow environmental anti-social behaviour to be tackled more effectively and at the earliest opportunity.

The announcement comes on the day that latest statistics on ASBOs were published showing that 918 orders were issued between April and June 2005, representing 14 percent of the total number of all ASBOs issued. The percentage of ASBOs issued to juveniles was 43 percent, which is one per cent lower than the previous quarter. The total number of ASBOs issued (as reported to the Home Office by the courts) stood at 6497 at 30 June this year. The number of ASBOs issued between April and June 2005 showed a one per cent increase from the previous quarter.

Home Office Minister Hazel Blears said: "ASBOs are now well established as a key tool in the battle against the persistent yobbish behaviour, intimidation and vandalism that cause misery and fear for so many people. Research shows that public awareness of ASBOs and confidence in them is high. There is a simple reason for this - ASBOs work.

"I am therefore delighted that the Environment Agency will soon also be able to apply for ASBOs. Graffiti, vandalism and fly-tipping are a depressing and unsightly blight on many communities. They affect people's quality of life, increase fear of crime and degrade our public spaces. The use of this new power will lead to faster action against the perpetrators of the menace and significant improvements in the quality of the local environment.

The Environment Agency's chief executive Barbara Young said: "These new powers are crucial in the battle to crack down and catch individuals who have no regard for our health and environment - far too many people and businesses are prepared to simply dump their waste and pollute the environment - costing industry and taxpayers millions.

"Now it will be possible for the Environment Agency to take rapid action to stop anti-social behaviour that harms the environment - in cases where an activity is causing harassment, alarm or distress to the community."