MONDAY 15TH MAY 2006

Mr. Nicholas Soames (Mid-Sussex) (Con): Given the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Woking (Mr. Malins) about the cost of ASBOs, is the Minister convinced that, in all cases, the police thoroughly follow up ASBOs, because there seems little point in issuing them if they are not properly enforced?

Mr. Byrne (Minister for Policing, Security and Community Safety): The hon. Gentleman is right to make that point. It is important that breaches of ASBOs are followed up and that offenders are given a clear message that, where there are breaches, there will be sanctions. Between 2000 and 2003, nearly 800 breaches of ASBOs were reported to us, 437 of which resulted in a custodial sentence being imposed, so it is absolutely right to say that a clear message must be sent when ASBOs are breached.