It took a long time for Sussex to make use of anti-social behaviour orders which have been available for three years.

But in Brighton and Hove, several have been imposed this year on youngsters who have been causing widespread trouble.

An excellent example of their use was when one youth was banned from many city centre shops, including those in Churchill Square, after causing havoc over many months.

Now the Government is to make it much easier for these orders to be obtained, cutting the red tape.

Anti-social behaviour orders are a useful way of tackling crime and vandalism. They should be used much more widely.

But they will not get rid of nuisance all by themselves. They have to be used in conjunction with other measures, such as vigilance by the public and better community policing.