Initials are just meaningless

Are any of your readers getting that deja moo feeling? You know, when you seem to have heard that load of bull before?

In the wake of excessive and growing antisocial behaviour and street violence currently culminating in an 11-year-old boy's shooting, our new Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith wheels out a set of initials.

Acceptable Behaviour Contracts, or as we will come to know and love them, ABCs, are set to hit our mean streets. These are no-nonsense, hard-hitting initials, meant to strike fear in the criminal fraternity.

According to the Labour propaganda machine, the scheme was extremely popular some years ago in Islington. Having read the government publication on the subject, why wouldn't it be, I ask?

I imagine the thugs on our streets will be positively salivating with joy at what they can expect to happen to them. What then, you may ask, is an ABC?

An ABC is a written agreement between an antisocial behaviour perpetrator and their local authority, Youth Inclusion Support Panel, landlord or the police.

ABCs are usually used for young people but can also apply to adults. The ABC consists of a list of anti-social acts that the offender agrees not to continue and outlines the consequences if the contract is breached. Contracts usually last for six months but can be renewed if both parties agree. ABCs are not legally binding, but can be cited in court as evidence in Asbo applications or in eviction or possession proceedings.

Well that's another problem sorted then.

Perhaps we can now go on to the next set of headline grabbing initials and meaningless gibberish so beloved of New Labour.

Alan Etheridge, Catholic Lane, Sedgley.