Plans to tackle nuisance behaviour

A range of measures to tackle anti-social behaviour will be unveiled as the Government pledges to crack down on minor crime.

Among the proposals to be outlined on Monday are plans to compel police to investigate any incidences of anti-social behaviour reported by at least five people.

The "community trigger" is one of a raft of proposals which form part of a government consultation on anti-social behaviour, a Home Office source said.

Other measures will see police given powers forcing culprits to make amends for nuisance behaviour immediately.

The move comes as the Anti-Social Behaviour Order (Asbo) is overhauled.

Instead police will be able to apply for a court order to tackle low-level nuisance behaviour.

The new measures will be called criminal behaviour orders.

The Asbo was launched under the last Labour government while Tony Blair was still in power.

But the measure has attracted criticism in some quarters for the perception that it is seen as a badge of honour among offenders.