Each nuisance family costs taxpayers £300,000 a year

Unruly families can each cost the taxpayer up to £300,000 a year, according to figures today revealing for the first time the full cost of tackling antisocial behaviour and family breakdown.

The cost to the system of each repeat criminal in a nuisance family is said to be £37,000 a year, in statistics which come as the Coalition signals it may scrap Asbos in England and Wales.

Home Secretary Theresa May said police should be able to use their professional judgment in dealing with antisocial behaviour, while punishments should be "rehabilitative", rather than "criminalising".

The figures show £23,200 is spent dealing with domestic violence in each nuisance family, while £17,400 goes on treating drug abuse and £5,350 is spent on issuing an Asbo.

Expelling a child to be taught in a pupil referral unit costs £62,388 a year. It costs £35,582 to evict a nuisance family, while temporary accommodation for them adds up to £35,500, and £46,800 covers a year's foster care.

The data was compiled by Westminster council, which saved £2 million in police and welfare costs in the last year with its Family Recovery Programme, under which families sign good behaviour contracts and are supported to get back on track by the council, police and the NHS.

Children's minister Tim Loughton said agencies working together can achieve vast improvements to services without vast investments.