We must name and shame the tearaways (From Warrington Guardian)

We must name and shame the tearaways

A COMMUNITY safety officer has called on magistrates to allow the press to identify troublesome teenagers who are made the subject of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO).

The comments come after a 15-year-old Winsford girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was granted anonymity after being issued with an interim ASBO in Northwich Youth Court on Monday.

The teenager has terrorised residents in Winsford and Brian Roberts, Vale Royal policing officer, now wants the faces of known troublemakers to be printed in the Guardian.

He said: "The Guardian is a integral part of the success of ASBOs in this area so we should be identifying these youths.

"I want to get their faces on the front page of the newspaper and also deliver leaflets informing people of who they are and what the ASBO means.

"We have had great success with previous orders after the person involved was put on the front of the paper.

"We ask members of the community for help in enforcing the ASBOs but how can they if they don't know who to look out for?"

An appeal was made by the Guardian against the decision to impose a ban on naming or photographing the girl, but defending solicitor Quentin Querelle successfully argued that her anonymity should be preserved.

The girl's interim ASBO was extended at the request of Weaver Vale Housing Trust, which has already brought a number of ASBOs against troublesome youths in Winsford. She will appear in court again on January 7 when a full hearing will take place with the possibility of a full ASBO without reporting restrictions being issued.

The 15-year-old girl is prohibited from:

l Being in possession of a golf club

l Leaving her home address between 7pm and 7am

l Using threatening, insulting or abusive words

l Behaving in a threatening, violent or abusive way

l Damaging, threatening or attempting to damage property

l Entering certain parts of Winsford

l Being found in the company of any members of a list of people submitted in court.