TfL TO BE GIVEN ASBO POWERS 'A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION'

9.38.38am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 25th Oct 2005

The London Assembly Liberal Democrats have today welcomed the moves to give Transport for London powers to apply Anti Social Behaviour Orders across the capital's public transport network.

The ASBO powers are to be discussed on Wednesday 26th October 2005 by the Transport for London Board, before starting the Parliamentary legislative process on the 25th November.

Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport spokesman, Geoff Pope, said:-

"Not only should these ASBO powers help to crack down on aggressive behaviour, but if properly applied it should also cut down on the unnecessary bureaucracy the police have been burdened with since Labour came to power.

"However, while the powers are important in controlling violent attacks on staff and passengers, they are not appropriate for dealing with homeless beggars. TfL should work with the capital's homelessness charities to sort that particular problem out.

"Giving Transport for London the power to apply for ASBO's against those who are a menace on our public transport system is a step in the right direction.

"If these powers are used wisely, then it should help speed up the ability of TfL to crack down on anti social behaviour and improve safety on the capitals' Tubes and buses."

ENDS

Notes to editor

The Transport for London Board will be discussing the proposals on Wednesday 26th October 2005.

Further information on the proposals to give Transport for London ASBO powers can be found below:-

"Clause 25 provides that TfL shall be a relevant authority for the purposes of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 ("the 1998 Act") which makes provision relating to anti-social behaviour orders. The 1998 Act enables relevant authorities to make applications for anti-social behaviour orders where a person has acted in a manner that caused or was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household as himself and that such an order is necessary to protect relevant persons from further anti-social acts by him.

TfL would be enabled to apply for anti-social behaviour orders to protect relevant persons as defined by clause 25. Those are persons who are on or in the vicinity (or likely to be on or in the vicinity) of premises or vehicles used for TfL local bus services, the London Underground, London Docklands Light Railway, Croydon Tramlink and other bus and train services provided under arrangements with TfL. If there was a breach of such an order, TfL could bring further proceedings under the 1998 Act.

Currently TfL is involved in gathering and producing evidence relating to the anti-social behaviour process under the 1998 Act. TfL has, in effect, been the instigating authority for numerous anti-social behaviour orders involving the transport services for which it has statutory responsibility but all applications for orders or other proceedings have had to be made through the British Transport Police or the Metropolitan Police. Inclusion of TfL as a relevant authority will enable TfL to make applications for orders and bring further proceedings in cases where TfL is the public authority primarily concerned without the need to go through the police.

TfL's powers under the 1998 Act would be exercisable concurrently with those of London local authorities under the 1998 Act and would not affect the exercise of the functions of the London local authorities under the 1998 Act."

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/downloads/pdf/tfl-bill-consultation-explanatory-notes.pdf