DECENT, ordinary citizens will be pleased today at the issuing of Bolton's first anti-social order.

It relates to a 14-year-old boy called Shane Gibbons who has brought miserable mayhem to residents around the area where he lives for the past five years.

Pensioners, shopkeepers and residents of all ages in the Astley Bridge, Sharples and Oldhams estate communities were in fear of the youngster.

As well as robberies and attacks on individuals, he carried an arsenal of weapons around with him. The words "reign of terror" are often used in the media, but they certainly apply -- in terrifying daily reality -- to this young thug.

The BEN is also pleased to be able to identify him. Sensibly, magistrates ruled that we can do this so that residents know who he is.

Anti-social behaviour can range from drunken shouting in the street to far more serious misdemeanours.

Gibbons' mindless activities over the years have not just been anti-social, they have been anti-human.

Now, he is no longer allowed to behave as he pleases, and has been banned from various parts of his local area -- including Oldhams estate, Barlow Park, shops and homes.

Unfortunately, as many local residents around the borough know to their cost, Gibbons' behaviour is not unique.

There are plenty of other young thugs who currently feel they can do exactly as they please, and the law cannot touch them.

This latest move shows that they are vulnerable, and that the action taken against them can quickly lead to custody if they breach these orders.

In the case of Shane Gibbons, five years' custody awaits him if he should breach the imposed conditions.

It is a sad reflection of what is happening in Bolton that many people will be looking forward to the issuing of further anti-social orders.

There should not be the need for such legal action, but there is clearly no other way to deal with the young and lawless who have moved way beyond parental control.

For many youngsters, the early signs are there when they refuse to go to school. It is worrying, therefore, that a recent crackdown on truants in Bolton town centre caught so many.

Parents have the responsibility to ensure that their children get a proper education. Sanctioning truancy may be the first steps to far more worrying anti-social behaviour.