Jack McConnell and Cathy Jamieson (left) met the unit's Tess Ash

Jack McConnell said agencies working together in the city had shown the way on how best to tackle unruly elements.

The council has set up a Nuisance Strategy Unit to identify disruptive residents and help victims of crime.

Mr McConnell headed a Scottish delegation including council officials from Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow.

The first minister was also joined on the visit by Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson, a police superintendent and council representatives.

Protecting communities

They met the leader of Manchester City Council and a judge who sits in the anti-social behaviour court.

The first minister said: "Manchester has shown exactly what can be achieved when there is a determination across all agencies to tackle anti-social behaviour.

"The city has shown that working together is the best way to make sure that lives can be changed for the better.

Jack McConnell chats with Richard Leese of Manchester City Council

"People don't care which public agency has responsibility for doing certain things - they care about their family and their community.

"They want to know that when it comes to dealing with the minority that can terrorise so many, that we are on their side."

The city council has introduced a "name and shame" leafleting service in local areas notifying residents of people covered by anti-social behaviour orders.

Nuisance team leader Tess Ash said: "Reading people's diaries detailing the effects that anti-social behaviour has on individuals is unbelievable.

"It is only when you start to read a person's diary that the impact of this drives you to say 'it has to stop'."

Dundee Council leader Jill Shimi said her authority had taken out 52 Asbos and was the first authority in Scotland to take out a closure order barring an anti-social owner-occupier.

Mr McConnell was also spending time with residents whose lives had been transformed by the actions of the police and local authority.