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Asbos are not the panacea for crime
• THE most interesting lesson of the anti-social behaviour review seems to be that, far from anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) being solely responsible for the reduction in crime in King’s Cross there was a combination of an increase in police presence and design-changes that worked in concert to bring about the changes (Critics silent as ‘stocktake’ backs Asbos, January 18, 2007).
According to section 9.3 of the report, the key was “bringing together physical regeneration, increased visible patrols, the use of more effective interventions (like Asbos) and other factors, like the use of CCTV, to bear down on the problems in the area”. Camden’s former Labour administration was keen on looking tough, but it seems that its over-reliance on Asbos in Camden Town failed to properly tackle crime here
As a resident of Camden Town, it seems to me that the situation is beginning to improve. I notice more police on the beat. There are now two Community Support Officers stationed at the end of Inverness Street. There is a feeling that drug dealers are being actively dealt with. The overcrowding of Britain’s prisons brings into stark focus the limitations of Labour’s clumsy approach.
BENEDICT GREENING
Chalk Farm Road, NW1 |
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