Crime and Disorder Act 1998

A landmark Act that introduced the anti-social behaviour order (ASBO, since replaced), established youth offending teams, created racially aggravated versions of common offences, introduced the reprimand and final warning scheme for young offenders, and placed a statutory duty on local authorities and police to work together to tackle crime and disorder through Community Safety Partnerships.

Key Provisions

• Section 1 (largely repealed): anti-social behaviour order (ASBO)
• Sections 28 to 32: racially aggravated offences
• Section 17: duty of local authorities and police to consider crime and disorder
• Sections 5 to 7: crime and disorder partnerships
• Section 37: principal aim of the youth justice system (preventing offending)
• Sections 65 to 66: reprimands and final warnings for young offenders (replaced)
• Section 8: parenting orders
• Sections 57A to 57G: sending cases to the Crown Court

Relevance to Policing

Key reference for racially aggravated offences, Community Safety Partnerships, and the statutory duty to consider crime and disorder, as well as historical context for the ASBO regime.