Why are people such *%*^ers these days?

[SlowOne]

Careful with your praise of ASBOs, they are one of the biggest infringements on civil liberties known to man.

All that's needed to get an ASBO is a complaint from someone to the Police, with their evidence. There is no trial, no proper collection of evidence, no defence attorny, no judge, no jury - all it needs is a policeman to tick a few boxes on a checklist.

However, if you break your ASBO, you go to jail. You can end up in jail without ever receiving a trial, without ever being given a chance to present your case, and with no right to appeal. When this happened in Iraq, someone decided to invade and kill people - the same person who thought up ASBOs. While this is happening in Zimbabwe, no one gives a s**t.

The UK is fast becoming a dictatorship. Two years ago, an 80 year-old man heckled Tony Blair at the Labour Party Conference. He was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and held for 24 hours without charge, and without representation. That's the act of a third-world dictator, not a 21st century democracy.

At least if someone goes to Juvenile Hall, they have had a trial. Given a choice, your system does at least sound like a civilised society, whereas ASBOs are unjust and undemocratic. Don't get me wrong, people who break the Law must be caught and prosecuted, but to do that we need more Police and Prosecutors. You might not like what you have, but ASBOs are not the answer.