Police can move on groups of two or more youths

Powers given to police as part of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act were used in Holyhead and Conwy.

Orders were made allowing officers to disperse groups of people considered to be troublemakers.

They were also allowed to order under-16s home if they were out after 2100 GMT.

Similar schemes were trialled in other parts of Wales, including Splott in Cardiff, Rhymney, Wrexham, and Rhyl.

Measures under the act also give police the power to disperse groups of two or more if they are intimidating, alarming or causing distress to others.

Officers can order anyone who does not live within the designated area to leave and not return within 24 hours.

Both the Conwy and Holyhead orders will come to an end in January.

If a problem occurs, the police handle the problem as it occurs and get rid of it - you don't need zones Jeff Evans, mayor

Police have been pleased with the results, and have reported that anti-social incidents in Conwy are down by more than a third,.

Alan Norton, a guest house owner in Conwy, said there had been a "dramatic change" in the town.

"The six years I've ben here, it's been really bad.

"We have had quite a lot of disorder, drinking, gangs of youths in the town.

"Virtually overnight, with the introduction of the order, that changed," he told BBC Radio Wales.

But some critics of the Holyhead scheme have been less convinced.

They have claimed the drinking and incidents of vandalism have just been moved to other parts of town.

Jeff Evans, the mayor of Holyhead, said: "The curfew pushed people just out of that zone.

"The simple solution is that we have police on the streets.

"If a problem occurs, the police handle the problem as it occurs and get rid of it.

"You don't need zones."

Last resort

North Wales Police will now be looking at the situation in both areas to decide whether the dispersal orders should continue.

Chief Superintendent Gareth Pritchard said: "Statistics show it has reduced crime and disorder.

"We are looking for solutions to improve the long-term quality of life for people who shop in the area and work in the businesses there."

Last August, South Wales Police chief Barbara Wilding said curfews for young people to combat anti-social behaviour should only be used as a last resort.

Mrs Wilding admitted that the curfew in the Splott area of Cardiff, worried her.

She said she wanted to ensure that officers and agencies tried every other method of controlling youngsters before another curfew was sanctioned.

Requests for any future schemes would have to be made in writing to senior officers at police headquarters, she added.