The Government should take seriously the thoughts of those in Oxford who say Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (Asbos) have been effective in curbing unruly behaviour on the city’s estates.

It is very easy for one government to overturn what the previous government has done merely because it was done by the previous government.

Indeed, it is one of the weaknesses of our first-past-the post system that throws up successive governments that seem to think they are duty bound to be diametrically opposed to the previous one.

The Asbo undoubtedly has its critics and there are clear implications for civil liberties in its application.

Nevertheless, they were brought in in response to a demonstrable problem of anti-social behaviour on Britain’s estates and, in many cases, have proved a useful tool in improving the quality of life for thousands of citizens.

At the very least, the Coalition Government should take time to properly evaluate the success or not of Asbos, including canvassing opinion of those directly affected across the nation.