Anti-social law change ‘does not go far enough’ May told

Victims deserve to be taken seriously as soon as they make a report, Victim Support said.

It follows high-profile cases such as that of Fiona Pilkington, who killed herself and her disabled daughter Francecca Hardwick, 18, in 2007 following 10 years of sustained abuse.

Home Secretary Theresa May insisted her plans to tear up anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) and replace them with simpler, quicker and more flexible measures would give the public confidence that when they call the police action will be taken.

But Javed Khan, chief executive of Victim Support, said: “Victims deserve to be taken seriously as soon as they make a report to the police. Waiting until a similar incident has been reported three times or by five people is not good enough.”

Under the plans in the Government’s white paper, police will be required to investigate any incident reported by at least five people, or any three separate complaints by the same person.

A new Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) will also be brought in to ban an individual from particular activities or places and civil Crime Prevention Injunctions (CPI) will be brought in to give agencies an immediate power to protect victims and communities. The lower standard of proof for civil orders means they can be put in place in days or even hours.

Police will also be given dispersal powers to order someone who is likely to commit, anti-social behaviour to leave an area and not return for 48 hours.

Mrs May said she wanted to stop repeat victims suffering unnoticed by giving communities and residents the power to make the police take action.

Speaking in Manchester, she added: “I want to see the police dealing with anti-social behaviour when it happens and when people are reporting it.”

She dismissed criticism that the reforms were simply rebranded Asbos, saying: “It’s going to be easier to operate at local level, so it’s going to be quicker to take action at local level.”

The Local Government Association said it was still vital to tackle the root causes of anti-social behaviour and crime.