Anti-social measures 'a success'

Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said 1,908 warnings had been issued in two years, with 118 fixed penalty notices given to the worst offenders.

There were also 1,900 warnings issued to "boy racers" and 170 vehicles seized.

Ms Jamieson said the Anti-social Behaviour (Scotland) Act had made a real difference to people.

The minister said an increasing number of measures within the act, like dispersal orders and closure orders, were also being used.

"There are no instant solutions and change doesn't happen overnight but, quite simply, lives are improving"
Cathy Jamieson
Justice Minister

Since the act was passed in 2004, 12 dispersal orders had been used and 21 closure orders were issued.

There were also more than 3,000 fines handed out in Tayside alone during a pilot of fixed penalty notices.

The last two years had also seen a rise in the number of anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) being sought and granted by the courts, despite the fact they were introduced before the act.

There were more than 200 issued in 2004-05 - an increase of more than 60% on the previous year.

Ms Jamieson said record numbers of police officers and the introduction of community wardens had also played a part in cutting crime.

"Two years on from the new anti-social behaviour powers coming into force, the police and other local agencies are successfully helping communities to tackle the blight of anti-social behaviour," she said.

"There are no instant solutions and change doesn't happen overnight but, quite simply, lives are improving.

"The challenge is to use the powers and resources in an effective, consistent and appropriate way whenever and wherever people's lives risk being dragged into the gutter by a minority who couldn't care less where they live or how they behave."

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