Madam, - I must disagree with the sentiments of Diarmaid Kearney of the National Youth Federation (June 7th). Asbos will not lead to the criminalising of young people; rather they give gardaí the power to deal with anti-social behaviour by giving yobs a final sharp warning: behave yourselves, or else. Both citizens and gardaí will have a greater voice in tackling the issues at hand. While the granting of an Asbo is a matter of civil law, breach of an order is a criminal offence, which is and should be both arrestable and recordable.
Anti-social behaviour is a growing problem throughout this country. A minority of ignorant yobs and troublemakers are being allowed to take control of our streets from the majority of decent people who live here.
Asbos must, of course, be implemented along with vigorous efforts to prevent a fresh generation of young people from being socially conditioned in an environment where anti-social behaviour as well as criminal activity are widespread and even accepted as the norm. Education and immediate action go hand in hand.
Living in Coolock, north Dublin, I face as a daily reality the constant harassment and unruly behaviour rampant in the area. The sooner Michael McDowell brings in Asbos, the better. For too many of our citizens, young or senior, a simple walk to the shops has become an ordeal. We all deserve better. - Yours, etc,
IAN GILL, Coolock, Dublin 13.
A chara - The former PD local election candidate John Kenny, in congratulating Minister McDowell (June 9th), criticises those in the National Youth Federation and in Fianna Fáil who oppose the proposed anti-social behaviour orders as being "soft on crime".
As a local representative, I am only too well aware of the problems of anti-social behaviour and want it stopped in my community. However, like many others who have worked with young people, I don't believe that Asbos are a solution. Indeed, if the powers provided by the planned legislation are misused by gardaí, they will exacerbate the problem by causing young people to have less respect for the forces of law and order.
In the UK, in a recent review of the the Asbos implemented there over a six-year period, the professional association for family court and probation staff concluded "that the original purpose of Asbos has been abused in some areas. In many incidents, individuals are receiving a custodial sentence when the original offence was not itself imprisonable. . . There is also ample evidence that the Asbo merely moves the anti-social behaviour to a different district."
The Minister would be better advised to fully implement the provisions of the Children's Act and fully resource National Youth Work Development Plan as meaningful ways of addressing youth "problems" in our communities, rather than pursuing the sledgehammer solution of Asbos.
Mr Kenny should rest assured that I, like most opposed to Asbos, am tough on crime. The difference between him and me is that I also believe in being tough on the causes of crime. - Is mise,
Cllr MALCOLM BYRNE (Fianna Fáil), Cathaoirleach, Gorey Town Council, Co Wexford.