Penny drops for ministers after 12,000 ASBOs

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 8th May 2008

Commenting on Jacqui Smith's speech, in which she called for early intervention to tackle the first signs of problem behaviour, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:

"The penny has finally dropped with evidence-immune ministers that ASBOs should only be used as a last resort. They are far more costly and less effective than alternatives such as Acceptable Behaviour Contracts, pioneered by Liberal Democrat councils.

"It has taken ten years and more than 12,000 ASBOs for ministers to recognise their mistake."