ASBOs: a first line of defence

Security officers frequently find themselves in the front line and, consequently, on the receiving end of anti-social behaviour. If there’s trouble brewing with an individual or a gang in a shopping centre, for example, it’s a sure bet that a security officer will be the one to bear the brunt of any misbehaviour.

We all know that the majority of shoppers aren’t the problem. Our own experience shows us that one or two individuals are usually the root cause. They’ll persistently visit a shopping centre and abuse members of staff with insults and threats (and, on occasion, carry out physical attacks). One of the major problems faced by Reliance Security Services officers and our clients working in the retail environment is trouble-seeking individuals who hurl verbal abuse and then try to provoke a response.

Like those in many other private sector security companies, our officers receive a good deal of conflict management training. They’re skilled at handling volatile situations, and not being drawn into arguments. However, repeated incidents of the kind and magnitude already mentioned can have a severe impact on retail sales, causing much distress and alarm to other shoppers.

Anti-Social Behaviour Orders

Until recently, dealing with troublemakers has proven difficult. The criminal process relied on witnesses who were often reluctant to come forward. In many ways, the police felt hampered to act without a great deal of evidence before them, while security personnel were constrained from tackling persistent offenders. However, there’s now a tool in the armoury of security officers which offers great confidence to resolve the problem – the Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO).

Both the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 and the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 introduced a new approach to dealing with persistent offenders. The Home Office describes ASBOs as statutory measures, their intention being to protect members of the public from behaviour that causes (or is likely to cause) harassment, alarm or distress.

An ASBO outlines conditions prohibiting the offender from carrying out specific anti-social acts or from entering defined areas, and is effective for a minimum of two years. For example, an ASBO may prevent an offender from associating with other named people or from going near an area like a shopping centre where they’ve caused problems.

ASBOs are Civil Orders made in Court. They can be applied for by Local Authorities, police forces and by registered social landlords, but not by members of the public. They are community-based orders that involve local people in the collection of evidence and in helping to monitor breaches of the peace. The civil status of ASBOs means that hearsay and professional witness evidence can be heard in ASBO applications. Any breach of an order is an arrestable and recordable criminal offence.

Have ASBOs made a difference?

Some say that ASBOs are trendy. Faddy. All spin and no substance. Other commentators herald them as a new dawn for security services. ASBOs are certainly politically controversial, but have they really worked for security companies like Reliance?

We would say that they have. Let’s look at an example, in this case the Manchester Arndale Shopping Centre owned by Prudential (‘New angles on Arndale’, SMT, May 2004, pp32-35). This is one of the largest city centre shopping complexes in the UK, visited (on average) by no less than 500,000 shoppers each week. It’s hard to believe that just one of those visitors could cause a problem – but they did.

The civil status of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) means that hearsay and professional witness evidence can be heard in ASBO applications. Any breach of an order is a criminal offence, which is both arrestable and recordable

One miscreant persistently abused, threatened and spat at staff and security officers working in the Centre. Along with individual retail outlets and Manchester Arndale staff, our officers collated a mass of information on this person, detailing the many incidents in which he’d been involved. With the help of the local Nuisance Strategy Group – part of the Local Authority – an ASBO was served. A leaflet was distributed within the Arndale and in the surrounding area detailing the offences, and explaining that this person was no longer allowed access to the Centre. If he’s seen there, prosecution will be immediate.

This one example has made a great deal of difference. Aside from the individual involved, others have been told about what happened to him and have seen the leaflet. As a result, anti-social behaviour has all but ceased. The ASBO (and a radio link involving 280 stores, which includes a panic button service and alerts all stores to trouble) has also had a significant impact on incidents occurring in the city centre.

‘Silent’ method of security

As our people on the ground explain, this is a measure that can be applied ‘silently’ without too much interaction with the individual. Thus all the goading in the world is fruitless. It means that our security teams don’t have to become embroiled in arguments with the individual. A quiet conversation about an ASBO being served on them is far more effective and shocking for the person concerned.

ASBOs don’t apply to individuals alone. In the Bentalls Shopping Centre in Kingston, for example, members of a gang who regularly harassed the security staff are now forbidden from entering any of the Surrey town centre’s main shopping areas.

In Hull, a 32-year-old prolific thief who frequently intimidated and verbally abused shop assistants and security officers alike has been banned from entering nearly 100 different stores in the city centre. He’s also prohibited from remaining in any shop within the city of Kingston-upon-Hull once he’s been asked to leave the premises by staff members.

Everyone must be involved

It’s interesting to note that ASBOs have been wholeheartedly embraced by retailers at the smaller end of the market. The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) and the Co-op have worked closely with the Home Office to ensure that ASBOs are relevant and useable by them. What has been less noticeable in the media and during public debate is greater involvement in the discussions concerning ASBOs by the larger security companies and retailers.

It’s clear that ASBOs are here to stay. What’s more, they work. It’s also evident that security companies should become more involved in making ASBOs successful – to protect members of staff and our customers, and rid town centres and shopping areas of the minority element that spoil the retail experience.