POLICE in Bolton say new government guidelines to name and shame adults and children who get anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOS) will benefit law-abiding citizens.

The Home Office has urged police and councils to publicise the identity of offenders who receive the orders after blighting the communities where they live.

The decision has been welcomed by Bolton police and council bosses.

Steve Entwistle, from the Offenders Tracking Unit at Bolton, said: "From our point of view, this is good news.

"What's the point of an ASBO if members of the public who it has affected do not know about it?

"The orders have been caught up in bureaucracy and red tape in the past and we don't want to be held back.

"Members of the public can help us and inform us if a person is breaking an anti-social behaviour order."

There are currently 70 existing ASBOs that have been issued in Bolton since the town's first order was issued by the courts in 2002.

About 70 per cent of ASBOs in the town are applied to adults rather than youths.

Cllr John Rothwell, executive member for social inclusion and community safety at Bolton Council, said: "If the order prevents an offender from going in a certain area, it's up to the public to say if they are breaking the law.

"It depends on the person, but if someone is a first time offender then we will be reasonable.

"But otherwise, they deserve to lose their rights and be shamed for what they have done."

Home Secretary Charles Clarke has sent out a "yob warning" to make it clear that anti-social behaviour has serious consequences.

The government is encouraging councils to use publicity to help enforce ASBOs to help protect the community.

The new guidelines stresses that the human rights of those given ASBOs must be considered, but identifying them was essential for communities to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Last May, the Bolton Evening News published a rogues' gallery of 19 louts who had been blighting Bolton with their anti-social behaviour.