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| Corby 'tops' Asbo watchdog report | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A Northamptonshire town has topped a survey of residents' perceptions of anti-social behaviour and breaches of orders designed to tackle the problem. A report by the National Audit Office (NAO) revealed nearly 55% of Asbos are breached by offenders. | |
| Home Office data showed 48.8% of adults in Corby believed anti-social behaviour was a big or fairly big problem. | Home Office data showed 48.8% of adults in Corby believed anti-social behaviour was a big or fairly big problem. |
| The Asbos were either breached by offenders committing more offences or by breaking the terms of the order. | |
| Mansfield in Nottinghamshire was second worst with 44.4%, then Hackney in east London and Nottingham, both with 42.7%. | |
| Luton - the Bedfordshire town voted the worst in Britain in an online poll two years ago - came fourth with 42%. | Luton - the Bedfordshire town voted the worst in Britain in an online poll two years ago - came fourth with 42%. |
| 'Tough talk' | 'Tough talk' |
| The study highlights a "hard core" of anti-social thugs against whom attempts to stop their bad behaviour had little or no effect. | The study highlights a "hard core" of anti-social thugs against whom attempts to stop their bad behaviour had little or no effect. |
| Home Office Minister Tony McNulty insisted breaches of the orders were not a sign of failure, while the Conservatives accused Labour of "talking tough but acting soft". | Home Office Minister Tony McNulty insisted breaches of the orders were not a sign of failure, while the Conservatives accused Labour of "talking tough but acting soft". |
| They could be a real weapon against crime if they were properly enforced David Davis, shadow home secretary | They could be a real weapon against crime if they were properly enforced David Davis, shadow home secretary |
| Official Asbo breach rates are due to be published by the Home Office on Thursday. | Official Asbo breach rates are due to be published by the Home Office on Thursday. |
| The NAO's survey of all English local authorities named Bristol as the place with the fewest perceived anti-social problems with only 5.7% of residents describing it as a big or fairly big issue. | The NAO's survey of all English local authorities named Bristol as the place with the fewest perceived anti-social problems with only 5.7% of residents describing it as a big or fairly big issue. |
| In second-best place was Staffordshire Moorlands, the district council centred on Leek. | In second-best place was Staffordshire Moorlands, the district council centred on Leek. |
| The data was based on "best value performance indicators" for 2003-04 which are collected by the Home Office but not gathered in this format, an NAO spokesman said. | The data was based on "best value performance indicators" for 2003-04 which are collected by the Home Office but not gathered in this format, an NAO spokesman said. |
| Chairman of the Commons' all-party Public Accounts Committee, Lincolnshire MP Edward Leigh, said: "Instead of being startled into bringing their behaviour into check, too often offenders respond to an Asbo by sneering at the authorities." | Chairman of the Commons' all-party Public Accounts Committee, Lincolnshire MP Edward Leigh, said: "Instead of being startled into bringing their behaviour into check, too often offenders respond to an Asbo by sneering at the authorities." |
| Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "They (asbos) could be a real weapon against crime if they were properly enforced but these figures show that is not the case. | Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "They (asbos) could be a real weapon against crime if they were properly enforced but these figures show that is not the case. |
| "Over half of them are being breached with over a third being breached on a serial basis. | "Over half of them are being breached with over a third being breached on a serial basis. |
| "Yet again we see Labour talk tough, but act soft." | "Yet again we see Labour talk tough, but act soft." |
| But Mr McNulty said: "Where breaches are reported it means that individuals are being monitored, that communities feel confident enough to report them." | But Mr McNulty said: "Where breaches are reported it means that individuals are being monitored, that communities feel confident enough to report them." |