The new prosecutors have been labelled "yob busters"

David Blunkett visited Birmingham on Friday to meet some of the people and professionals in communities affected by anti-social behaviour problems.

The city is a trailblazing area for taking steps to reduce nuisances.

The posts, in areas including the West Midlands, are funded by the Home Office for two years at a cost of �2m.

'Minority of thugs'

Anti-social behaviour prosecutors, dubbed "yob-busters", will also be based in Manchester, South Yorkshire, Merseyside, Camden, in London, Avon and Somerset, South Wales, Lancashire, West Mercia, Sussex, Kent, and Northumbria.

Mr Blunkett said: "Anti-social behaviour is always about the behaviour of a minority of people ruining neighbourhoods and destroying people's quality of life.

"Communities should not tolerate this and can fight back to restore the area's pride for the benefit of the law-abiding majority.

The vital job of the specialist prosecutor will be to give a loud voice to those communities David Blunkett

"Vandalism, graffiti and harassment may seem trivial on a charge sheet. But behind those charges is often a community living in fear besieged by a reckless and out of control minority of thugs.

"The vital job of the specialist prosecutor will be to give a loud voice to those communities."

John Davies, who was named as the specialist prosecutor for the West Midlands, said he was honoured to take on the role.

He will be an authority on the range of powers available for tackling the problem, can apply for anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs), will pursue cases through the courts and work with other local agencies.

Last year Birmingham set up its own anti-social behaviour unit to launch a blitz on nuisance neighbours, begging, kerb crawlers, prostitutes and street drinkers, and fly tipping.

A new helpline was launched on Thursday for local people to report incidents and get advice and assistance.

Mr Blunkett said: "The action in Birmingham, which has already seen communities freed of their nuisance neighbours and 42 ASBOs handed out since 1999, will be long-term and will show how the powers the government have introduced can make a real difference.

"Coupled with record numbers of police on our streets - there are 13,567 in the West Midlands and 151 community support officers - today's announcement is an important step as it closes the circle that starts out on the streets and ends in the courts."