Yobs to be banned from troublespots for two days

Police will be able to ban drunks and yobs from trouble hotspots for 48 hours under plans announced today by the Home Office.

The "direction" power - which will not require court approval - will permit any Pc or community support officer to order someone over the age of 10 who is behaving in a disruptive manner to leave an area for two days.

The plan is one of several measures to combat anti-social behaviour, proposed in response to warnings by the police watchdog that the problem is blighting communities.

A suggestion that officers could be given the power to seize troublemakers' MP3 players and other possessions is not included, although ministers do say that alcohol could be confiscated as part of "on the spot" action to halt disorder. A "community trigger" will also be introduced, under which police will be required to act if five people in an area complain about anti-social behaviour. A similar response will be required if a single victim complains three times.

Further powers will be contained in new "criminal behaviour orders", under which offenders convicted of a crime will be banned by a court from continuing their anti-social behaviour for up to two years. They will face a possible five-year jail term if they fail to comply.

Announcing the reforms, crime prevention minister James Brokenshire said the aim was to replace Labour's "bureaucratic" Asbo system with measures that would provide rapid and effective help for residents.

"These reforms will be swifter, cheaper and more effective and will be a very important step forward for people suffering from anti-social behaviour," he said.