Police blamed underage drinking for rising levels of violence

The Lothian and Borders force used powers to break up groups of youngsters causing disturbances in Mid Calder.

They said the measure, the first of its kind in Scotland, had "dramatically" reduced anti-social behaviour.

Before the order, police said they were taking seven calls a night about youth disorder, whereas they received a total of seven calls in the past month.

The zone was introduced after officers found up to 50 girls and boys had been using text messages and the internet to arrange fights in the conservation village in West Lothian.

Many parents have talked to their children about the impact their actions can have on a small community Superintendent Harry Watters Lothian and Borders Police

Police said youths were also known to run amok, vandalising cars, gluing locks, dismantling fences and vandalising the local primary school.

The force blamed underage drinking for the escalating violence and had feared that someone would be killed if the trouble continued to spiral out of control.

They seized baseball bats, golf clubs and fence posts studded with nails from youths gathering in the village, 12 miles from Edinburgh.

But Superintendent Harry Watters said an immediate difference was noticed as soon as the order was brought into force on 1 December last year.

Police have told 31 people, mainly aged 14 to 17, to disperse since the order was enforced.

'Police advice'

Only seven of those ordered to disperse came from outside the village.

None of the 31 boys and girls were arrested or were repeat offenders, Mr Watters added.

He said: "The dispersal order has had exactly the impact we had hoped for with no significant incidents of disorder, a significant reduction in calls and a community who are truly heartened by the improvement.

"The young people have also responded well to police advice and I think many parents have also talked to their children about the impact their actions can have on a small community."

He said one shopkeeper had noted an increase in business in the evenings because gangs of youths were not loitering near the store.

Mr Watters added: "Whilst we are delighted with the progress that has been made we will obviously continue to monitor the situation closely, but we believe the situation has improved dramatically for everyone in Mid Calder."

Mid Calder, where the wide-ranging powers were applied

The dispersal powers were brought in under the Anti-Social Behaviour (Scotland) Act 2004.

The order can remain in place until 28 February.

Under the order, people from outside Mid Calder can be barred from the village for 24 hours, while village residents can be asked to leave a group and go home.

Failure to comply with the order will result in arrests, police have warned.

The powers are in place from 1700 to 0200 GMT on Fridays and Saturdays and from 1700 to 0001 GMT on Sundays.