from ASBO to CRASBO
WORKERS, MAY 2005 ISSUE
The use of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders has been welcomed in many areas as a deterrent to low level types of crime such as prostitution, drug dealing, vandalism and graffiti. But ASBOs ignore the background of such crime: unemployment, poverty, illiteracy and homelessness, all largely economic, are not being addressed as a class issue.
Now the government is introducing a "criminal related" ASBO, or CRASBO. Two cases are currently going through the courts. In North Yorkshire the Ministry of Defence, the North Yorkshire Police and the US Forces at Menwith Hill spy base are targeting peace protesters who have maintained a vigil against the Menwith Hill base for years.
The CRASBO will make tracts of North Yorkshire "no-go" areas to protesters and effectively enforce a form of internal exile on two leading women peace protesters.
The second case involves the bringing of a CRASBO against a man who posted job vacancy details for the post of Pope on a website. Incredible that this should happen in a country which ditched Roman Catholicism 500 years ago.