We hope these ASBOs will be extremely effective in reducing the disorder these people are involved in

Detective Inspector Mark Anastasi

The granting of the orders by magistrates in North Tyneside, is the culmination of months of work by the police, fire service and public transport operators Nexus.

In March 2001, residents in Howdon and Willington Quay raised concerns about youth disorder in the area.

Detective Inspector Mark Anastasi from Wallsend Area Command chaired a review looking at the issues.

A number of measures - ranging from targeted police operations to cleaning up litter in the area - were implemented and a number of ASBOs were also applied for through the courts.

Breaches of ASBOs can lead to long custodial sentences.

'Further problems'

This week at North Tyneside Magistrates Court orders were granted against 16-year-olds Kelvin Shotton, of Tunbridge Avenue, North Shields; Lee Armstrong, of Elgin Avenue, Howdon; Richard O'Carroll, of Radnor Gardens, Wallsend and Paul Borg, of Quay View, Willington Quay.

Further orders were granted against Wayne Dack, 17, of Headlam View and Andrew Patterson, 14, of Denbigh Avenue, Wallsend;

Det Insp Anastasi said: "The ASBO procedure has been achieved by the strength of community feeling in the area and the work of all the agencies.

"ASBOs provide a legally-enforceable method to restrict individuals from causing further problems in the area.

"Although the situation has improved considerably in recent months, we hope these ASBOs will be extremely effective in reducing the disorder these people are involved in.

"This has been one of the largest ever applications for a group ASBO in Britain, so far as we are aware.

"It is a tribute to all the partners who helped bring this case to court."