ASBO nation: The criminalisation of nuisance

Description

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) has been a major preoccupation of New Labour's project of social and political renewal, with ASBOs a controversial addition to crime and disorder management powers. Thought by some to be a dangerous extension of the power to criminalise, by others as a vital dimension of local governance, there remains a concerning lack of evidence as to whether or not they compound social exclusion. This collection, from an impressive panel of contributors, brings together opinion, commentary, research evidence, professional guidance, debate and critique in order to understand the phenomenon of anti-social behaviour. It considers the earliest available evidence in order to evaluate the Government's ASB strategy, debates contrasting definitions of anti-social behaviour and examines policy and practice issues affected by it. Contributors ask what the recent history of ASB governance tells us about how the issue will develop to shape public and social policies in the years to come. Reflecting the perspectives of practitioners, victims and perpetrators, the book should become the standard text in the field.

Peter Squires, is Professor of Criminology and Public Policy at the University of Brighton. His previous publications and research includes work on young people, ASB and community safety, firearm related crime, policing and comparative gun control policies.

"The social construction of 'anti-social behaviour', together with the extension and dispersal of interventions, sanctions and, ultimately, punishments targeted at the 'anti-social', comprise some of the most controversial policy developments of the New Labour era. This timely volume critically illuminates the origins, applications and impact of such phenomena. It makes essential reading for researchers, students, policy-makers and practitioners alike." Barry Goldson, Professor of Criminology and Social Policy, University of Liverpool