POLICE are opening up more than 170 ‘Asbo files’ to see if a raft of banning orders need to stay in place.
One-time troublemakers are facing the realistic prospect of seeing their Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (Asbos) torn up if police officers find that they have managed to put the brakes on their nuisance behaviour.
The new inquiry is the first case-by-case review of Camden’s runaway use of banning orders since the numbers of Asbos being obtained in the borough began to spiral around three years ago.
Camden, through a partnership team of council officials and police officers, has obtained by far the greatest number of Asbos in London.
But both the Town Hall and the police now agree that it is time to reflect on the ferocious pace and analyse their success.
PC Tim Pescud, from the Anti-Social Behaviour Team, said: “We are looking at each file to see what has happened in each case. It is a long task because we have almost 180 orders now. We are looking to see if the orders can be varied or discharged. Cer-tainly, if someone has kept their nose out of trouble for three years and then we will look at whether the orders can be discharged.”

THE Labour Party was last night (Wednesday) in deep turmoil after admitting flaws in its candidate selection process which saw a veteran councillor of 20 years’ experience dumped from the Somers Town ward.
Bitter recriminations followed the defeat of Councillor Roger Robinson, a highly popular figure, earlier this month. Some members and voters claimed the former mayor had been “kicked in the teeth” to make room for Abdul Quadir, the deputy mayor, whose own Highgate seat had become marginal.
They were also incensed that a female candidate was selected by default due to the party’s quota rules.
Bungling party organisers have now confirmed that they will re-run the internal vote to find candidates to stand in the St Pancras and Somers Town ward at next year’s council elections.