ON the face of it the Antisocial Behaviour Order extension against Byron Haines is much-needed to protect the people of Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys.

The allegations and evidence produced against this young man — given a two-year banning order in 2007 — were enough for a district judge to yesterday order an extension into September next year.

Police labelled Haines the estate’s number one problem and they have obviously been investigating him.

Yet the concern must be that if Haines is such a problem then why is he back before a court for an Antisocial Behaviour Order hearing and not on conventional criminal charges? The allegations are serious, after all.

Asbos can be, in some ways, the start of a paper trail. If someone breaches their Asbo then a custodial sentence can follow. Yet Haines’ previous convictions given in court yesterday show many before the first order and only two since.

Fear of reprisals is given by police as one problem for not being able to pursue criminal charges and that is understandable in these type of cases but we would appeal for people to help the authorities when it is appropriate.

Ultimately if Haines has been a continuing source of trouble all this time then the original Asbo must, logically, be deemed a failure.

Getting an extension will only be fruitful if it finally curtails his behaviour.