Anti social behavior orders introduced in 1998 have been abolished. The ASBO was a civil order made against a person who had been shown to have engaged in anti-social behaviour. Whilst initially successful, they became, in the eyes of some recipients, a badge of merit and in some cases, the only certificate they had acquired.

ASBOs and the other 18 measures to counter anti-social behavior, have been replaced by six new anti social behavior powers, including the Civil Injunction.

The Civil Injunction can be issued by courts to stop a person who is committing anti-social behaviour, such as public drunkenness or noisy and abusive behaviour towards neighbours.It offers protection and a quick resolution for victims and communities.

It can also include positive requirements to help anti-social individuals address the root causes of their behaviour, such as attending alcohol awareness classes, or mediation sessions for neighbours to get the issue resolved.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Anti-social behaviour is a blight on communities and the Coalition Government is determined to clamp down on it. Victims often feel powerless, but through our reforms we have given them a stronger voice.

The new civil injunction is quick and easy to use and will act as a real deterrent to perpetrators.It will put victims and communities at the heart of the response.”

The other five new powers are: the criminal behaviour order, community protection notice, public spaces protection order, closure power, and the dispersal power.

In addition the community trigger and the community remedy have been introduced to give victims and communities a say in how local agencies deal with anti-social behavior.