Founder of Asbo Concern tells Johnson: Asbos still don't work

Four years ago Matt Foot helped to set up Asbo Concern, which campaigned against the abusive use of Asbos. With Ed Balls, he says, he at last found a receptive ear in government, but now Alan Johnson is taking a step backwards

According to Matt Foot, writing in The Guardian, Home Office minister such as Hazel Blears trumpeted the rise of Asbos as a great success. "The fact that there was no evidence for this claim made little difference to the need to grab a headline.

"When obtaining an asbo, there is no protection of the vulnerable, such as those with mental health problems. When introducing asbos, Jack Straw said they were not to be used against people because they were different. But that is exactly what happened. Asbos were primarily being used against the mentally ill, the elderly, the very young, drug and alcohol addicts, sex workers and beggars."

And anyway, says Foot, Asbos simply don't work...

Read his letter to The Guardian here