What his most recent assessment is of the effectiveness of sentencing policy in reducing the level of antisocial behaviour.

This is the first Government ever to introduce comprehensive measures to tackle antisocial behaviour. There were none in 1997. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 imposed duties on local authorities and police to tackle antisocial behaviour, and those duties have been steadily strengthened. The National Audit Office found that nine out of 10 perpetrators ceased their antisocial behaviour after three interventions, in which a range of measures to tackle antisocial behaviour can be used.

My hon. Friend will know, because she was there, that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister came to my constituency last Thursday to see what support is in place for victims of antisocial behaviour and crime. It is key that support is given to those victims, so what more are the Government going to do to support them?

I was very pleased to visit my hon. Friend's constituency last week with the Prime Minister, and to see what his council is doing in working with all the local agencies and the local police to provide an effective service for victims and witnesses of antisocial behaviour. I was particularly interested in the work done by Andrew, the council's antisocial behaviour officer. The Home Secretary announced a range of new measures last month, including a national take-up campaign for the public, providing more access to information, and better communication for those engaged in tackling antisocial behaviour. Under the new deal for victims and witnesses of antisocial behaviour, 85 areas will receive funding for victims champions. My hon. Friend's constituency is one of those areas, and we will do more to work together with the crime and disorder reduction partnerships to improve local services in targeted areas.

Order. From now on, I really do want to make sharper progress, which means short questions and short answers.

May we please have some lists from the Minister showing which police authorities and which local authorities are using that legislation, and which ones are refusing to?

I shall be very happy to provide that information to my hon. Friend and to the House.

One problem is that a lot of what the authorities treat as antisocial behaviour is in reality crime-such as assault, criminal damage and public order offences. Should those offences not be treated as crime, rather than dealt with under a civil procedure?

Before the introduction of antisocial behaviour orders and, indeed, other measures, such as acceptable behaviour contracts and parenting orders, many of those offences went either unreported or undealt with. As a result of the use of antisocial behaviour orders, many more are being dealt with effectively.

I thank the Minister for that answer, but is not the real point that the effectiveness of sentencing for those offences should be judged according to the type of offence, and not be treated as a rather less important matter, such as antisocial behaviour? Should not the Government look for sentences such as restorative justice, which work against real crime and do not downplay the seriousness of the offence?

On the contrary, we do not treat those issues as insignificant. In fact, it is precisely because the Government have recognised the important role that antisocial behaviour plays in a community that we have made sure that we tackle it. We introduced ASBOs, and when they are breached somebody may be convicted, with a resultant prison sentence of five years. That shows that we do not take the issue lightly.

The Minister will agree that one driver of antisocial behaviour is alcohol and, in some cases, hard drugs. However, the average fine for possessing crack cocaine has dropped from £300 to £38 in just three years. Does the Minister accept that that sends out the most extraordinary mixed messages about the importance that the Government attach to the use of hard drugs and misbehaviour resulting from it?

Obviously, sentencing in those circumstances is a matter for the courts, and we are sending out a strict and tough message about the impact on communities not only of drugs but of all forms of antisocial behaviour. It is this Government who have been strong on that message, and it is the Opposition who have not shown quite so much support.

The Minister's comments are pure bluster. The situation is actually much worse than that. The Director of Public Prosecutions is now reviewing the Government's caution culture. Will the Minister explain how we have a situation in which a 15-year-old boy can be cautioned for rape and a man can be cautioned for glassing a woman in a pub? Is that the hon. Lady's idea of summary justice?

We have made it absolutely clear that there is a place for out-of-court disposals and for cautions. They are not for serious, violent offences, and that is why my right hon. Friend the Justice Secretary has announced a review of the circumstances in which those out-of-court disposals are used, and whether they are being used appropriately. If they are being used for serious, violent offences, as has been stated over the past few days, that is exactly why we need to review them.