FOR a long time our readers have called for a solution to the problem of youth nuisance on our streets.

Today we report how dispersal orders, which allow police to move along groups of two or more people if they believe their behaviour may be intimidating, have proved to be a huge success.

Some figures are simply astounding.

In Tredegar the number of complaints fell by 94 per cent to just 11 in the first six months of 2007.

And other areas have seen falls of up to 66 per cent.

Of course, there is a social issue to all this and we are well aware of the need to provide youngsters with alternative activities to keep them out of trouble.

That is something we have said needs addressing for a long time.

But readers have told us previously that their number one concern is anti-social behaviour and no doubt they will be pleased to see these amazing figures today.

It seems dispersal orders are the easiest way of cutting youth nuisance in areas that have been plagued with problems.

Those living in trouble spots are now asking what will happen when dispersal order notices run out.

That's a valid question and one we will be putting to Gwent Police's Chief Constable Mike Tonge in the near future.

There will also be those that will say dispersal orders just push the problems on to other areas.

But we see no evidence of this so far.

What the orders do is break up the habits young people have of hanging around certain areas at all hours of the night.

While not wishing to demonise them, they must be told, under no circumstances, that sometimes their behaviour is not acceptable.

We fully support the police in this effort and hope to see more orders introduced on a regular basis.

Our streets are a far better place for them.