Measures would harm local policing, says group

Anti-social behaviour orders would undermine community policing and "criminalise" young people, two groups have told the Oireachtas Justice Committee.

In separate submissions to the committee the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) and the Local Drug Task Forces yesterday strongly criticised the proposed orders, saying they could increase conflict between the Garda and communities.

The orders would allow local authorities or the gardaí to summon offenders to court on a civil rather than a criminal basis.

Sanctions can include restricting offenders from entering certain areas or ordering them not to persist in particular "anti-social acts". Failure to comply with the order could result in a criminal conviction.

The proposal to introduce the orders under the Criminal Justice Bill is in conflict with the ethos of community policing in the forthcoming Garda Bill, the ICCL said.

Research and policy officer with the ICCL Tanya Ward said anti-social behaviour orders would undermine community policing, as they are not focused on problem-solving but are "heavy-handed punitive measures obtained without due process."

The threat of such orders could erode any trust built up between the Garda and the community.

"This destroys the foundation on which successful community policing is built", particularly in communities "where there are barriers of fear, apathy and mistrust that need to be overcome" Ms Ward said.

Government resources committed to increasing services for young people could be negated by the introduction of anti-social orders, David Connolly of the Local Drugs Task Forces said.

The approach to date had been to encourage increased investment in facilities and services for young people.

"We consider that this is a more effective policy and should be maintained," he said.

The drug task forces recommend local policing forums involving residents working with the gardaí. "Experience shows that a punitive approach that criminalises young people has a long-term detrimental impact on the communities where they live.

"We would caution the Minister for Justice in relation to introducing new measures that could make the position worse."