POLICE in Pendle have warned unruly youngsters that officers are increasingly likely to use Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOS)to protect potential victims.

Magistrates are now issuing an increasing number of ASBOs and authorities want the gangs of "bored" young troublemakers to be assured they are not out of reach of the law.

The police 'get tough' message comes after Burnley justices this week passed two more orders, one of them on a 14-year-old schoolboy who had never been before a court before in his life.

Teenager Brian Butler, of Livingstone Walk, Brierfield, will be subject to the order until his 18th birthday, in June 2008. Another teenager, Peter Hammerton, 17, of Cambridge Street, Colne, was given an interim ASBO after upsetting residents in Pendle.

PC Karen Fitzpatrick, local authority liaison officer with the Pendle Community Safety Partnership, said anti-social conduct by the young was now a countrywide problem but said: "We have a commitment to deal with it."

She revealed that since her appointment in January 2001, seven full ASBOs and three interim orders had been made on youths, of both sexes, from Pendle.

She said: "Many victims are living in fear and their quality of life is decreasing -- and yet groups of teenagers seemed to think there was very little anybody could do about their conduct.

"They believe the law is not able to deal with them but ASBOS can be used to control their behaviour. Householders now have more expectation that the police will act over rowdy behaviour as they are aware of the courts' powers to make ASBOs."

The officer described ASBOs as a "very powerful tool" which allowed victims to take control without having to stand up and confront the youths.

She continued: "ASBOS are saying to the victims that something is being done. Victims do not have to go to court and don't have to give evidence as that can be done for them."