Clause 13 - Injunctions against anti-social behaviour on application of certain social landlords
Anti-social Behaviour Bill
5:00 pm
Mr Matthew Green (Ludlow, Liberal Democrat)
''Low-level'' may not be an appropriate term. There is clearly a difference between the level of intimidation caused by behaviour that is potentially threatening or violent and antisocial behaviour that relates to noise in the person's house.
An injunction that bars someone from his own home is a pretty severe sanction. It is not the same as losing a tenancy. There is a difference. The injunction would bar people from their own homes, and the amendment seeks to ensure that the power would apply only in certain cases. The Minister may assure us that it can be dealt with by guidance, and that the power will be used only in extreme circumstances. That may be one way around what appears to be too powerful a provision. The effect of making people homeless for a period could be disruptive for a huge number of people, possibly leading to them sleeping on the streets.