CHILDREN under 16 who are in public places after 9pm unsupervised could be sent home by police.

Officers will also have the power to force groups of more than two to disperse as part of a crackdown on unruly conduct in Chester-le-Street.

The powers were approved by the executive committee of Chester-le-Street District Council under the Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003.

Police will target areas where gangs of youth are causing problems for shopkeepers and residents.

Ian Broughton, the council's community services director, said: "It is for young teenagers and we can insist they are sent home if they are loitering about on the streets.

"It is a laser-beam approach to tackling problems and is a power that the Government has made available.

"We have never needed to use it before so this is the first time it will be implemented."

The council will sign dispersal orders after areas are identified by police across the district.

They will be served on young people who persistently cause problems. Those who refuse to comply risk being taken home or arrested.

Chief Inspector Dave Hogg, of Durham Police, said the only other time the force had used legislation in this way was with the introduction of a 9pm curfew in Seaham last year.

Chief Insp Hogg said: "It is something we are actively considering to deal with problems in Gibside. There have been problems for a number of years regarding a significant number of youths."

Incidents include theft, harassment of shopkeepers, intimidation of elderly people and late-night noise.

Dispersal orders were first introduced in January last year and have been successful in other parts of the country.

A Home Office spokesman said: "Dispersal orders are one of the most effective tools in the anti-social behaviour armoury.

"One day a community is blighted by a gang of youths running riot and making residents' lives a misery and the next day the law-abiding majority are free to enjoy their community without the fear of being a victim of anti-social behaviour.

"These orders work in helping people here feel that they can go outside their front doors into their communities and local shops."