HOME SECRETARY WRONG OVER BROKEN BEHAVIOUR CONTRACTS
a media release on the 23rd August 2007
William Graham (Conservative AM for South Wales East) responding to the Home Secretary urging police and local authorities to increase the use of Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) to nip anti-social behaviour in the bud.
“The Home Secretary calls ABCs successful, highlighting how 25,000 have been issued throughout Wales & England, claiming that this number of people have ‘agreed to change their ways’. The reality is that over 60% of those under 18 who are given Acceptable Behaviour Contracts persisted with their anti-social behaviour, breaking their contracts”.
“ABCs are not the panacea to solving the problem of anti-social behaviour, they may get a good headline, they do nothing to address a serious social problem”.
“There is little use in introducing ‘new powers’ that are impossible to enforce”.
“With 25 years experience as a magistrate, I appreciate the need to properly enforce laws that are currently on the statue book, not to look for additional powers”.
“David Cameron is right to highlight the wider social issues that are the primary cause to anti-social behaviour and substance misuse. We need to address these issues, not seek headline grabbing announcements of new powers”.
William Graham JP, AM
CHIEF WHIP, PARTY CHAIRMAN AND EUROPEAN SPOKESMAN
Email – William.Graham@Wales.gov.uk