A TOP Greater Manchester policeman has called for a review of the use of Asbos after writing a book claiming they do not work.

Chief Supt Neil Wain, commander for the Stockport division of GMP, says almost half of Asbos - anti-social behaviour orders - are breached, they can criminalise people for minor matters and the conditions imposed are often too stringent. 

He was speaking ahead of today's launch of his book The ASBO Wrong Turning, Dead End.

But council bosses in Manchester - dubbed the Asbo capital of the country - have strenuously defended their use of the orders.

The new book is based on a year of research he carried out as part of a masters degree in applied criminology from Cambridge University.

Chief Supt Wain studied two areas and one youth offenders' institution in the north, interviewing 21 offenders along with 30 police and youth workers.

The book includes examples of where the Asbo appears to have failed, with one young man jailed for visiting his sick mother and another who struggled to find work because he was barred from a town centre

Although he insists the orders do and can work in the right circumstances, Chief Supt Wain says his research raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the way Asbos are used. Most of the offenders interviewed said they would continue to commit crime despite the Asbo.

Chief Supt Wain said: "The aim of this is to reduce crime in our communities. If these orders are imposed on people at an early stage all the research suggests that those going to prison early will have longer criminal careers."

Aside from raising a series of questions, he said he had reached a `firm conclusion' that not enough support was provided for people with Asbos. He admitted he had not spoken to a single victim of crime as part of his study, but pointed out his research was only about the order itself and whether it works to address criminal behaviour.

He said he had `not gone soft' and, when asked if he was worried that he may now be viewed as an apologist for young thugs, he said: "If people talk to me and read it that's not the case at all. What I'm not advocating is any form of welfare approach."

Coun Eddy Newman defended the town hall's use of Asbos.

He said: "In Manchester we believe our use of Asbos has been necessary and targeted at the worst cases, usually where violence or the threat of violence is evident."

GMP Assistant Chief Constable Dave Thompson said: "Chief Supt Wain has raised some interesting points on the use of Asbos. However this is a personal project and the book does not represent the views of GMP."

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