Witnesses could give evidence from behind screens, or via video link

Ms Blears said Asbos made a "real difference" to people's lives.

But shadow home secretary David Davis said Asbos were like "sticking plaster over an amputation", and other critics said half were breached.

Some 786 Asbos were issued in England and Wales from October to December 2004, up 116% on that quarter of 2003.

Yobbish behaviour continues to blight our communities and young people are not being deterred from criminality David Davis

Recent cases included brothers aged 10 and 12 banned from swearing, making rude gestures, damaging property, starting fires and throwing missiles.

A 79-year-old woman was also served with an order for harassing her neighbours.

Ms Blears said it was good news that more Asbos were being issued, as it showed police and local authorities were taking anti-social behaviour seriously.

The fact more than 40% of Asbos had been breached did not mean the orders were not working, she told BBC News.

'Behaving properly'

While it was "no wonder" some people would breach Asbo conditions, the most important thing was that, if this happened, they were returned to court and action taken against them, she said.

She added: "50% of orders are not breached. That means in 50% of those cases people are now behaving properly and the kind of misery they've been causing has actually stopped."

She added the number of people experiencing anti-social behaviour as a real problem in their communities was down to 18% from 23% a few years ago, which she described as "real progress".

Mr Davis argued that the government was still not tackling the root causes of anti-social behaviour, saying: "Yobbish behaviour continues to blight our communities and young people are not being deterred from criminality.

Too often an Asbo is a badge of honour, not a real solution to offensive behaviour Mark Oaten

"The government should pursue alternative punishments to custody for breaching an Asbo, such as reparation orders for parents or taking away a driving licence to address the appalling failure rates that undermine the whole scheme."

Mark Oaten, home affairs spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, also voiced concerns that Asbos were simply "quick fixes" which failed to address the underlying causes of bad behaviour.

"Record numbers of Asbos do not mean the streets are any safer. Too often an Asbo is a badge of honour, not a real solution to offensive behaviour."

This came after human rights group Liberty warned Asbos were not a "cure-all solution".

We have serious concerns that the use of Asbos may not always be appropriate and aid this goal Liberty

A spokesman voiced concerns that the rise in the number of the orders being issued by magistrates was the result of government pressure.

He also expressed reservations about new measures, which come into effect on Friday, including the lifting of media reporting restrictions in Asbo cases.

This was "counter-productive and can in some circumstances lead to vigilantism", he said.

Harry Fletcher of the National Association of Probation Officers said some local authorities were issuing Asbos to drive anybody whose behaviour was eccentric, undesirable or a nuisance off the streets.