ALMOST two-thirds of ASBOs slapped on young yobs in South Yorkshire are breached, shock new figures today reveal.
A total of 65 per cent of anti-social behaviour orders dished out to 10 to 17-year-olds are broken following continued bad behaviour - compared to the national average of 61 per cent.
There were 490 ASBO breaches between 2000 and 2006 - with yobs often breaking them repeatedly.
ASBOs are civil sanctions which can be imposed on anyone aged 10 and over to protect the community from behaviour that causes alarm or distress.
The orders, which last at least two years, can ban offenders from committing specific anti-social acts, going to certain areas or hanging out with other troublemakers.
Breaching an ASBO is a criminal offence, punishable by up to five years in jail.
The breach rate for over 18s in South Yorkshire was 51 per cent - compared to the national average of 43 per cent.
A total of 119 offenders breached their ASBOs more than once in the region.
What do you think? Post your comments below.The Home Office statistics show the number of orders issued by the courts in South Yorkshire is falling.
There were 83 dished out in 2006, compared with 104 in 2005.
It brings the total number slapped on South Yorkshire thugs since 1999, when ASBOs were introduced, to 331.
The Home Office has put the national drop in ASBOs down to an increase in the number of "early intervention" procedures designed to nip anti-social behaviour in the bud.
These include Acceptable Behaviour Contracts - agreements between yobs and either the police, a housing department, a registered social landlord or a school.
There were a massive 1,906 ABCs agreements drawn up in South Yorkshire between 2003 and 2006 - the second highest in the country behind Greater Manchester.
Other tools include Parenting Contracts - agreements between parents of tearaway children and a school or local education authority.
Under the contracts, parents agree to comply with requirements such as ensuring their child goes to school regularly and on time.
There have been 137 parenting contracts agreed in South Yorkshire between 2003 and 2006.
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