POLICE began a crackdown on youth nuisance in St Annes last week as new legislation came into force.

Officers now have powers to disband groups of youths, order them to leave an area and not to return within 24 hours under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003.

Section four of the act gives officers the power to arrest offenders, which could lead to a criminal conviction, a fine and/or a maximum of three months' imprisonment.

"The problem of anti social behaviour by young people, whilst not being unique to this area of the Fylde Coast, is prevalent in Central and Ashton wards and in previous years has been dealt with by traditional police methods," said a spokeswoman for West Lancashire Police.

"This approach is often resource intensive and costly in officers' time preventing them from dealing with other issues of concern to the community."

The new legislation also includes curfew orders, under which under-16s can be taken back to their home address between 9pm and 6am.

Blackpool-based Superintendent Andy Rhodes said: "The message to these youths and more importantly their parents is that they will be removed, brought home and on some occasions arrested.

"People need to start realising that if they don't know where their kids are at night they could be getting involved in this type of behaviour and end up with a criminal record."

PC Martin Taylor, who has worked in the St Annes area for seven years, added: "We understand and sympathise that young people want to 'hang out' with their friends and we are trying to provide suitable facilities with the new youth shelter and the development of the skate park, on which work starts in the early part of this year.

"However there is no excuse for the small minority who choose to behave badly and show no respect for the community."