A leading children’s charity this week warned of the dangers of government plans to repeal the anti-social behaviour order (asbo).

The Home Office is currently consulting on its ‘More Effective Responses to Anti-Social Behaviour’ policy, which aims to give the police, courts and the community extra tools to deal with the issue.

But Barnardo’s, the UK biggest children’s charity, is concerned that a new police ‘direction power’ could see vulnerable young people returned to dangerous situations that may have caused their behaviour in the first place.

Barnardo’s chief executive Anne Marie Carrie said: ‘If police send children back to abusive or unsafe households or move them on without consideration for the reasons behind their anti-social behaviour they could be placed in greater danger.’

The government wants to push through reform of the system amid accusations that asbos are ineffective and seen as a badge of honour.

Carrie agreed that young people should face the consequences of their actions, but argued the new legislation is not a big departure from the existing system.

‘If the government really wants effective responses to anti-social behaviour by children then it needs to know why the problems are happening in the first place,’ she added.

‘We need to treat the causes of crime, rather than put sticking plasters on the symptoms.’

The Home Office consultation has been extended until 17 May, with the government making assurances that the asbo replacement will both punish and rehabilitate.

Victims and communities will have the right to force police and the courts to deal with persistent offenders, and various police dispersal powers will be brought together into a single power.