TWO families in the Duke Bar area of Burnley are making life a misery for other residents councillors were told.

Coun Arif Khan told colleagues on the policy and resources committee: "There is a problem in the Duke Bar area."

Police, he said, were called to two families there every day because of problems including children as young as four out on the street late at night breaking windows.

Coun Khan said: "Eventually they were evicted but they are now back on a nearby street making a misery for other residents.

"They have even pulled up stone flags from the pavement and sold them."

Coun Khan asked who would implement new anti-social behaviour orders which come into effect next month as part of the Crime and Disorder Act.

Council leader Stuart Caddy said it was something which would be addressed and tackled by both the local authority and police. Head of legal services Freda Sharkey said the council would actually make the orders and the Crown Prosecution Service would prosecute if there was a breach.

Community safety officer Graham Smyth said there was a strong commitment within the council and police and other partners to make use of the new orders.

But court action was not always the most effective and other action could be considered before taking the step of going to the courts.

Mr Smyth said there was a much more lukewarm response to the provision for local child curfews for the under tens.

He said that provision would certainly be put under threat by the Human Rights Act. He added: "Regardless of that I have always had doubts whether this would be a top weapon in our armoury."

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