New Labour's Police State

Anyone who dares to criticise antisocial behaviour orders is immediately accused of being out of touch with those being terrorised on housing estates. New Labour's home secretaries Jack Straw, David Blunkett and Charles Clarke have all resorted to throwing insults such as "Hampstead liberals" at those challenging any of the 34 "anti-crime" bills introduced since 1997. So what are the criticisms? One rather obvious problem with Asbos is that they are increasingly used against people who have never "terrorised" anyone. Take a few recent examples. A 23-year-old woman who repeatedly threw herself into the Avon was served with an Asbo banning her from jumping into rivers or canals. A man with mental health problems was banned from sniffing petrol anywhere in Teesside. A woman living on an estate in East Kilbride was given an Asbo ordering her not to be seen wearing her underwear at her window or in her garden. The local Asbo unit handed out diaries to her neighbours to record when she was seen in her underwear, giving a new meaning to neighbourhood watch. (...)

A triumph of hearsay and hysteria
Asbos are targeting the vulnerable so the government can win votes
by Matt Foot
Tuesday April 5, 2005
The Guardian