This presentation was produced by participants in the 'Enhancing Employability via Community Challenge' research project at the University Centre at Blackburn College.

1. Evaluating diversions
from Anti-Social
Behaviour
The Anti-Social Behaviour Research Group at
the University Centre Blackburn College

2. The Crime & Disorder Act 1998
introduced „ASBO-mania‟ as:
“headline writers seized upon the term with
gusto. A mini-industry flourished selling T-
shirts, hoodies and even babies' playsuits
emblazoned with Asbo-related slogans.”
(Kelly, 2012)

3. “Misfits”
“ASBO
superheroes”?

4. But the term was poorly defined and
lack of detail led to excessive and
inappropriate use.
Examples:
“love-making,
putting up risqué signs,
free running,
singing,
setting up a pirate radio,
begging and
not paying a restaurant bill”
(Morris, 2012).

5. UCBC Criminology students studied
.
diversions from ASB as provided by
Blackburn Rovers Community Trust
and the organisation STREETS.
Small teams were formed in order to
assess perceptions of ASB in seven
areas of Blackburn with Darwen.
This enabled comparison with the
national picture in the British Crime
Survey.

6. Perceptions were acquired from:
239 local residents plus 42 detailed
interviews,
100 business representatives,
130 Blackburn Rovers fans and
50 young people plus 50 recorded hours of
observations.
A full STREETS programme was also
observed for 25 hours.
Levels of ASB in places no longer receiving
diversionary work from Blackburn Rovers
Community Trust were also researched.

7. BBC.co.uk

8. In order to get beyond the „sensational‟ the
students inquired into perceptions of seven
different types of behaviour:
1. teenagers hanging around on the streets
2. vandalism, graffiti and other deliberate
damage to property or vehicles
3. using or dealing drugs
4. drunkenness or rowdiness in public
places
5. rubbish or littering
6. noisy neighbours or loud parties
7. abandoned or burnt-out cars.
(Parfrement-Hopkins and Hall, 2009)

9. Students as producers of the
social world they live in
The UCBC students researched the work of
Blackburn Rovers Community Trust in seven
areas of Blackburn with Darwen.
They noted that an offer of free services were
made to young people residing in seven different
venues across the Borough that totalled 19,200
hours per year.
They also noted the engagement from young
people with a variety of ages and different social
and ethnic backgrounds.

11. “[I’d be] just walking round the
streets, playing footy or something on
the streets if I wasn’t here”
“No, there’s never any trouble here. I
know most of the people that attend -
they are all from the estate.”
“If I wasn’t here I’d probably be smokin’
weed. I’d be getting smashed
somewhere if you want the truth.
Probably stuck in a fight somewhere.”

12. Research Findings
the supervised sessions of additional
physical activity for young people that
amounted to a total of 9,600 hours
the progression of four young people
from attendees into coaching and
supervisory roles
the weekly attendance of over thirty
young people at each venue

13. There was more…
the input of advisory agencies and
over 700 hours of open access to
computers and games consoles
through Click at the BRIC
the regular sharing of experiences
and forms of good practice by
Community Trust staff
a clear reduction in the number of
recorded ASB incidents in the
different areas

14. Consider the evidence?
Whilst Street Soccer was taking
place in the seven areas it was
discovered there had been a total
reduction of 144% in reported ASB
incidents.
In the only one of the Borough‟s
seven areas not to have received any
Street Soccer provision in 2011-
12, it was found there were an extra
404 reported incidents compared to
the previous year when it was
available.

15. Or imagine a bigger and
better society?
Following their „win‟ in the 2010 general election
the government proclaimed their “driving
ambition: to put more power and opportunity
into people‟s hands.” (Cabinet Office, 2010: 1).
But
“It will be challenging to break this entrenched
public belief that anti-social behaviour is
something that the police are left to deal with”
(Hodgkinson and Tilley 2011: 296).

17. False economy?
“For every $15,000 that we spend
intervening in the lives of
economically and otherwise
disadvantaged kids in those earlier
chapters, we save $80,000 in crime-
related costs down the road. Even if
you don't agree that there's a moral
imperative that we do it, it just
makes economic sense.”
(Dow, 2012)

18. “the introduction of a „Community Trigger‟
will improve the services from local
councils, the police and other partners to
victims and communities experiencing
persistent ASB.” (Home Office, 2012)

19. “Community as curriculum”
(Professor Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University)

20. The „consequences concept‟ is a major part of the
STREETS programme and this strengthens its pro-
social modelling approach.
The STREETS providers sought to:
“reinforce comments and actions which value non
criminal activities and associations” (Trotter, 2009:
145). FLICKR @POWERBOOKTRANCE

21. Trust in the future?
In May 2012 the White
Paper, Putting victims first: more
effective responses to antisocial
behaviour, was published to
extensive media interest (Home
Office, 2012). The headlines tended
to focus on the „death of the ASBO‟.
Really?

22. ASB Research Group Participants:
Angela Pasquill, Jean Darby, Dishan Asraf,
Shamas Aziz, Sam Bartley, Donna Braithwaite,
Angela Chadwick, Jade Conway, Marselle Davies,
Emma Fort, Michael Gamble,
James Haythornthwaite, Charlotte Hesketh,
Nicola Joseph, Darren Kenny,
Angela Mckeefery, Allan Shorrock, Saabir Patel,
Trisha Williams, Rachael Woodward, Maria Croft,
Olivia Clarkson, Sam Daley, Charlotte Flynn,
Kirsty Holden, Tilly Hudson, Eve Westwell and
Hannah Postlethwaite.

23. References
Dow, D. (2012) Lessons from Death Row Inmates. URL
(accessed 25 June 2012)
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/david_r_dow_lessons_fr
om_death_row_inmates.htmlHome Office 2012
Kelly, J. (2012) “ASBO: The end of an era.” URL (accessed 25
May 2012) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18164426
Morris, N. (2012) 'Crimbos' replace Asbos – but will they rush
children into custody? URL (accessed 24 May 2012)
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/crimbos-
replace-asbos--but-will-they-rush-children-into-custody-
7778907.html
Parfrement-Hopkins, J. and Hall, P. (2009) “Perceptions of
anti-social behaviour” in D. Moon and A. Walker (eds)
Perceptions of crime and anti-social behaviour: Findings from
the 2008/09 British Crime Survey. URL (accessed January
2010) www.homeoffice.gov.uk
Trotter, C. (2007) “Pro-Social Modelling” in G. McIvor and P.
Raynor (eds) Developments in Social Work with
Offenders, Research Highlights in Social Work with Offenders.
London: Jessica Kingsley.