Officials have been given more powers to tackle bad behaviour

Funding of more than �5m from ministers will be used in the purge on trouble.

Local authorities have been given beefed-up powers under the Scottish Cabinet's flagship blitz on anti-social behaviour.

Minister for Parliamentary Business Margaret Curran said: "My message to hard-working people in Glasgow and across the country is a positive one.

"Anti-social behaviour is a serious problem but it need not be tolerated."

Tough steps include investigators probing reports of trouble, as part of a Community Relations Unit contactable via a hotline.

Anti-social behaviour has for too long been a scourge which blights some of our communities Councillor Jim Coleman Glasgow City Council

The service, which works with the Glasgow Housing Association, was previously available only to council tenants.

The drive against anti-social behaviour, led by the Anti-social Behaviour Taskforce, also includes a new Mediation Service.

Trouble-shooters aim to settle neighbourhood clashes before they blow up.

Deputy council leader Jim Coleman said: "Anti-social behaviour has for too long been a scourge which blights some of our communities.

The blitz aims to crack down on troublemakers

"We are confident that the introduction of these new services and the strategic approach developed with our partners will offer some respite to those affected by this kind of abuse.

"We want to prevent problems from escalating through mediation and other preventative measures."

He added: "However, persistent and significant anti-social behaviour must not be tolerated and we will work with our partners to address that."

The new measures follow the decision in September to put more than 40 Community Patrol Officers on the streets of Glasgow.