Young people get them. Pensioners get them. Even Lottery winners are not safe. One person received one for 'persistent howling'. Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) are on the rise and they do not appear to be going away. The number of ASBOs handed out has soared by a staggering 116 per cent in the past year. A total of 4,483 were handed out in England and Wales. While ASBOs are more closely associated with young hoodlums terrorising council estates, more orders were served on adults last year - 1,539 for over-18s compared with 1,063 to ten to 17-year-olds. Greater Manchester topped the ASBO charts with 710 orders while Greater London saw 448. Even sleepier rural areas such as Lincolnshire and Wiltshire saw some activity, with 16 and 18 respectively. Announcing the figures, Home Office minister Hazel Blears insisted: 'Antisocial behaviour is a menace. ASBOs make a difference to people's lives.'
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