THERE is something deeply unsatisfactory about a second antisocial behaviour order being issued to the obnoxious Ian Joseph.

Joseph was given a two-year Asbo in 2004 after making a nuisance of himself.

That expired in November 2008 but here we are again with the 44-year-old given a five-year order after causing a nuisance outside Temple Cowley Pools and elsewhere. People have been abused, intimidated and sworn at and Oxford City Council’s own press release admits he has continued to behave in an odious manner since the first Asbo ended.

So why are our forces of law and order not treating Joseph more seriously?

An Asbo is supposed to change someone’s behaviour yet in this case it patently has not and will not.

One of the ‘advantages’ of an Asbo is the level of proof needed in court is less than for a criminal charge.

That’s good for dealing with yobs tearing up a neighbourhood when it is difficult for the police to be on hand to collect evidence.

Yet according to the council, Joseph is continually causing problems outside Temple Cowley Pools. If he is intimidating people to the level suggested, why have the police not mounted an operation and collected the evidence for charges under section four or five of the Public Order Act? It would require more effort but solving the problem should surely take priority over choosing the easier option.