Tackling vandalism is a high priority

Consultation has been launched on new laws which would extend anti-social behaviour orders to under-16s.

Under the proposals child offenders as young as eight could be tagged and, most controversially, the parents of persistent young offenders could be jailed.

Opposition parties have dismissed the strategy as talking tough on crime while failing to act on the causes of crime.

The Scottish Police Federation welcomed the new powers, but added that funding for more police officers would make many of the proposals on offer unnecessary.

The measures follow election promises to clamp down on youth crime and improve living conditions in troubled communities.

THE PROPOSALS Extending the availability of electronic tagging of children Extending anti-social behaviour orders to children aged between 12 and 15 Introducing community reparation orders Introducing parenting orders which require parents to act in the best interests of their children Fixed penalty notices for some anti-social behaviour More powers for councils to tackle noisy neighbours and deal with landlords who do not tackle anti-social behaviour by their tenants Stiffer penalties for litter, fly-tipping, graffiti and abandoned cars

First Minister Jack McConnell and Communities Minister Margaret Curran launched the consultation exercise at the Burdiehouse estate in Edinburgh on Thursday.

The executive intends to bring forward detailed legislation in the autumn.

Mr McConnell said: "We are determined to crack down hard on anti-social behaviour, which takes many forms but has the same corrosive effects.

"People's lives are made a misery, the fabric of our communities is degraded, neighbourhoods are blighted and crime increases.

"It cannot be tolerated any longer."

He added: "Our policy package is based on a graduated approach, emphasising prevention first, voluntary measures next, but tough and effective sanctions for those who persistently fail to respond," he said.

Ministers visited an Edinburgh estate

"This will make a real contribution to our commitment to improve people's quality of life."

Ms Curran said offences associated with anti-social behaviour have been on the rise over the last decade.

However, many people do not report offences to the police because they do not think anything can be done.

"This has to change and that is why we have made tackling anti-social behaviour a key priority of this parliament," said the minister.

The biggest single contribution that could be made to help solve these problems is to put more police onto our streets Margaret Mitchell Tory deputy justice spokesman

Margaret Mitchell, the Scottish Tories' deputy justice spokesman, said the executive was taking moves in the right direction but that more could be done.

"The biggest single contribution that could be made to help solve these problems is to put more police onto our streets - not just freeing up more beat time for the existing force but the recruitment of many more officers," she said.

Her view was echoed by Douglas Keil, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation.