Special Bulletin

The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 is part of a major British government initiative to combat anti-social behavior. The bill introduces a number of measures to tackle a range of "undesirable" behavior including: strengthening of existing sanctions of ASBOs and fixed penalties notices and supervision orders; new powers to deal with premises that are used for drug dealing; extended powers for tackling ASB in social housing including demoted tenancies and exclusion orders; mechanisms for involving parents of those involved in anti-social behavior, including new powers for schools and LEAs in respect to truancy and exclusion; and new powers for the police to designate areas where they can disperse groups causing intimidation. The Act employs both civil and criminal measures, and makes many changes to current legislation in such areas as housing, nuisance, youths and parental responsibility, public order controls, drug misuse and firearms.