Young Bristol man only second in the country to have an ASBO cancelled

Release Date:  28-Jan-2010

A young man from Barton Hill given an Anti-social Behaviour Order (ASBO) has done so well that his order has been discharged early. This is thought to be only the second cancelled in the country which was because of his exceptionally improved behaviour.

Jonathon Collins who is now 17 was given an ASBO to prevent him from harassing people or damaging property or vehicles in Barton Hill in July 2008. Since then he has made many positive changes to his life with the support of Bristol City Council Youth Offending Team, Barton Hill Youth Inclusion Project; the Princes Trust and Carillion PLC.

Cancelling the ASBO this month Judge Cooper from Bristol Magistrates Court said, “I discharge this ASBO with great pleasure and hope that others will learn from this”.

“This is a great success story which proves that people can change and that we must work together to give them the support to do so,” said Gary Hopkins, Cabinet Member for the Environment and Community Safety for Bristol City Council. “Recently there have been moves towards more positive support work across the UK. This is a very good example of how well-planned and relevant prevention work coupled with effective multi-agency efforts can work to reduce anti-social behaviour and to support positive behaviour and good citizenship.

Bristol City Council Anti-Social Behaviour team applied to the court for an ISO (Individual Support Order) * which set out the activity that Jon had to continue, including education, positive youth activities and some reparation work for the community including helping with decorating and some admin work.

“We use these orders for younger people with ASBOs to give them a framework to get back on track and this worked very well with Jon” said Linda Oliver Youth Justice Support Worker from the Youth Offending Team who worked with Jon. “He has now recognised his behaviour was wrong and is working hard at his apprenticeship. We are delighted at his success,” she said.

Following a course in bricklaying supported by the Princes Trust, he has now passed his level 1 and is doing his level2 apprenticeship with Carillion.

Jon is particularly happy with his apprenticeship, “It’s really nice to be earning money and I enjoy bricklaying. I think I needed the ASBO to make me change and I am glad I have had the chance and help to start again”.

“Getting this apprenticeship has made a real difference to Jon's view of himself and to his behaviour. He has adopted a whole new set of positive habits, responsibilities and friends. He is now training to be a skilled member of the community”, said Ms Oliver, “It is to Carillion's credit that they accepted him but we understand he is now a useful member of the work force”.
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Carillion's Placement and Monitoring Officer said, “We are delighted that Jonathan has embraced the opportunity that we offered him. His attendance and attitude has been good since he joined our apprentice programme and he has recently progressed from level 1 onto level 2. He is now gaining valuable site experience working on a local Carillion highways project and the feedback from his supervisor is very positive. We hope that the good progress continues and expect that Jonathon will complete his qualification next year”.

For further information from Vicky O’Loughlin O117 922 3463
*Individual Support Orders
ISOs are court orders only available for 10-17 year olds which can be attached to 'stand alone' ASBOs and impose positive conditions on the young person to address the underlying causes of the behaviour that led to the ASBO. An ISO may last up to six months and can require a young person to attend up to two sessions a week under the supervision of the youth offending team (YOT). Breach of an ISO is a criminal offence which may be punished by way of a financial penalty.

Author:  Vicky O'Loughlin, Media Officer, 0117 92 23463

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