Asbo-style orders used more than 20 times in Portsmouth last year - and less than three times across Fareham and Havant

ASBO-style orders were used more than 20 times in Portsmouth last year – but surrounding councils saw just a couple of instances that warranted taking the ‘last resort’ action.
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Portsmouth City Council used community protection notices – a way for local authorities and the police to identify and restrict anti-social behaviour – on 21 occasions last year, information gathered by civil liberty group The Manifesto Club.

Meanwhile in the same period, Havant issued them twice – and Fareham used them just once.

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Last year saw a notice issued to a nuisance beggar in Fareham, while in previous years notices have been used to stop people feeding pigeons in Havant.

Local authorities and police can use Community Protection Notices to target anti-social behaviour. Stock Picture: Ian HargreavesLocal authorities and police can use Community Protection Notices to target anti-social behaviour. Stock Picture: Ian Hargreaves
Local authorities and police can use Community Protection Notices to target anti-social behaviour. Stock Picture: Ian Hargreaves

The notices remain an important tool in tackling anti-social behaviour across the city, according to Portsmouth Council leader Gerald Vernon-Jackson

He said: ‘People have to be good neighbours.

‘And we need to use every tool in the box to make sure people don’t cause trouble for others.’

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But the Home Office had to issue updated guidance on their use in 2017, saying particular care should be taken when handing them to vulnerable people.

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Havant Borough Councillor Narinder Bains, cabinet lead for neighbourhoods, safety and enforcement, said: ‘I think from our perspective, enforcement isn’t always the number one priority.

‘There might be vulnerable people who have issue, so having a fine doesn’t resolve the issue.’

‘It’s one of many tools at our disposal, and one I’m very reluctant that officers utilise.’

Fareham borough councillor Trevor Cartwright agreed, saying the notices were ‘a last resort’ after working to support people repeatedly committing anti-social behaviour.

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The executive member for public protection said: ‘Yes, we do suffer with anti-social behavior, but compared to Portsmouth, we don’t have as much of an issue.

‘It might be because they haven’t got a good working relationship with their partners.

‘I would question what set of results they get using the notices.’

But Cllr Vernon-Jackson said the council maintained a ‘good working relationship’ with the police and the voluntary sector to support vulnerable people.

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He said: ‘People in Portsmouth know who they can turn to if they need support.’

More than 8,750 notices were issued by 202 English and Welsh councils in the year to October – up from 6,234 by 192 councils the previous year.

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