BLACKBURN MP Jack Straw has urged the Government not to scrap anti-social behaviour orders.

Mr Straw introduced the measures when he was Home Secretary in 1998.

But today the new coalition government signalled the possible end of their use by saying it was 'time to move beyond ASBOs'.

Mr Straw said the measures had made a 'huge contribution' to cutting crime and removing them would be a blow to communities blighted by yobs.

The legislation was brought to deal with persistent minor offenders whose actions might not otherwise have been punished.

ASBOs also allow these individuals to be named and shamed, and give police extra powers of arrest.

Mr Straw said: "There is no doubt that the introduction of ASBOs has made a huge contribution towards tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.

"The were brought in to fill a very serious gap in the law because public order offences are quite insufficient to deal with the kind of low level but persistent offences that blight neighbourhoods.

"I think the only concern anyone has about ASBOs is whether they are enforced properly. They should certainly not be scrapped."

Home Secretary Teresa May said she wanted a review of the powers because police should be able to use their 'common sense' to deal with anti-social behaviour.

She said: "It is time for us to stop tolerating anti-social behaviour.

"We must turn the system on its head.

"There is no magic Whitehall lever we can pull simply to stop anti-social behaviour. No magic button to press or tap to turn to stop the flow of misery.

"The solution to your community's problems will not come from officials sitting in the Home Office working on the latest national action plan.

"We will put power into the hands of our citizens and we will put our trust into the professionals."