The legislation, called a dispersal notice, comes into force in Saltersgill from Tuesday morning.

Officers will have the power to move on gangs of youngsters and take home anyone aged under 16 who is congregating in a gang after 2100 GMT.

It is the first time the power has been used by Cleveland Police and comes after complaints from residents.

Superintendent Steve Ashman said: "We have tried a number of measures in terms of increasing police numbers and local authority street wardens.

"But we have reached the point where many residents have had enough and it is time we did something about it."

'Nothing to fear'

The curfew-type rules will cover Saltersgill Avenue and a number of streets running off it, and will be in place for six months.

Mr Ashman said of the new powers: "Where groups gather and we believe they may intimidate people or behave in an anti-social manner, we can move them on.

"If they don't move on, we can arrest them and put them before the courts.

"But it is important that innocent young people know they have nothing to fear from this.

"We are targeting a group of 15 to 20 individuals - we know who they are and where they live and congregate.

"They have brought misery to local residents so this is a message to them."