For PC Shelley Watson, the crime-fighting weapon of choice is the Asbo and she has no doubt that it works.

Introduced four years ago and revised recently so they can now be granted through both criminal and civil courts, the Asbos - Anti-social Behaviour Orders - restrict the movements and actions of persistent offenders.

The subjects of the orders have to sign up to acceptable behaviour contracts.

They face sanctions of up to five years in prison and a hefty fine if they do not abide by their terms.

PC Watson said that in her patch, in Hartlepool, the eight orders that had been granted had curbed possibly hundreds of incidents of anti-social behaviour involving repeat offenders.

She cites the case of 18-year-old Barry Jemmett, who was made subject to an Aasbo after terrorising staff at the Middleton Grange shopping centre in the town.

"He had been involved in just over 200 incidents before the order, but since getting the Asbo that dropped to about three," she said.

While Asbos have been generally successful when dealing with teenage tearaways, they have proved less relevant to another of the Government's anti-social targets - the persistent beggar.

Said PC Watson: "We have quite a few beggars in Hartlepool.

"The problem is proving to a court that they have caused harassment, alarm and distress under the terms of the order.

"I had 214 statements from members of the public with regards to one man, but none of them would stand up in court because no one was particularly frightened or threatened by his behaviour," she said.

Supporters say the argument that Asbos simply drive the problem elsewhere can be combated with the knowledge that the orders can be varied or extended to take in new areas.

In Middlesbrough, Mayor Ray Mallon has won praise for his stance in stamping out unruly behaviour on the town's streets, and the council has shared its ideas with other authorities.

A delegation from York City Council recently met street wardens and spoke to council staff about their work with Asbos.

Joy Nolan, community safety manager at Middlesbrough Council, said that 12 Asbos were currently in place in the town.

She said: "We realise that some councils don't have the resources or the knowledge to go down the path we have but we hope they can learn from the pioneering approach we have taken."

Councillor Barry Coppinger, head of public protection at Middlesbrough Council, said: " We have another ten Asbos in the pipeline and also have 12 injunctions in place against troublesome council tenants and six recently successful eviction orders."

Young offenders who have received Asbos include:

Dwayne Ashley Grimes, 16, from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, who received a two-year Asbo after hurling abuse at his neighbours and repeatedly damaging residents' windows by throwing stones and eggs. He also stole property, rode his bike through shops and was abusive to staff and customers.

Joanne Mafham, 18, and Claire Richards, 17, both of Darlington, were subject to Asbos after running amok in the town centre.

They shouted abuse at security guards and shopkeepers, robbed a girl of her mobile phone and punched a man who went to help. Richards was jailed for two months after breaching her order days after it was made.

David Warrener, 20, from Sunderland, received an Asbo during criminal proceedings at Newcastle Crown Court. He admitted hurling a lit firework into a shop in Sunderland and was also arrested 51 times after committing a catalogue of offences in the city's Thornley Close estate, including car theft, arson, assault, burglary and possession of drugs.