ASBOs to come into force from Jan 1st
It has been reported that the Government's controversial Anti-Social Behaviour Orders will come in to force for adults on New Year's Day.
ASBOs are also planned for children aged between 12 and 18, but these won't be introduced until March.
According to this morning's Irish Times, from January 1st, any Garda will be able to apply to a District Court to obtain an ASBO against an adult who is causing “harassment, persistent alarm or distress, fear or intimidation” to others.
The breaking of this order will then automatically incur a fine of €3,000 or a jail sentence of up to six months.
ASBOs have been heavily criticised by the Ombudsman for Children and the Irish Human Rights Commission who maintain that they will end up criminalising people for behaviour that is not normally criminal.
The Government however insists that ASBOs will only be used as a last resort.
