GWENT is benefiting from police initiatives introduced to combat anti-social behaviour.

Dispersal orders allow police to move along groups of two or more people if they believe their behaviour may be intimidating or distressing to the public.

This can involve taking home offenders and issuing warning.

The order makes it an offence to congregate in designated areas when asked to be moved on by police.

Police also work with community groups to provide youngsters in 'hot spots' activities to get involved with as opposed to loitering in the streets.

There have been more than 11 dispersal orders in Gwent over the past two-and-a-half years.

Blackwood's order covered the town centre between July and September 2005 and reports of anti-social behaviour dropped from 27 in July to zero in September.

In Tredegar, the number of complaints fell by almost 95 per cent, from 191 in the first six months of 2007, to just 11 in the second half.

The order was in force on Church Street, Charles Street and the Sirhowy roundabout on the A4048.

In Monmouth, which covered the St Mary's church area between April and September 2006, reduced complaints by more than 40 per cent from 24 in the whole of 2005 to 14 in 2006, with only four coming during the order and only one in 2007.

Abertillery town centre's order, which ran between June and November last year, reduced the number of complaints from 51 in June to 34 in November.

Three orders were issued in Cwmbran, one covering the town centre in 2005, one affecting Maindee Road shopping area in West Pontnewydd between March and August last year and one covering Edlogan Square, Croesyceiliog from June - November 2007.

Complaints about anti-social behaviour in West Pontnewydd dropped from 44 calls in February 2007 to 15 during the six months the order was in effect.

Calls about anti-social behaviour in Croesyceiliog also dropped as a result of the order being implemented, with less than 10 calls across the six months.