MORE than 20 youngsters are at the first stage of antisocial behaviour orders after a series of problems at Risca Rugby Club.

The news comes after our special report yesterday on how ASBOs are being used to clamp down on problem youths all over Gwent - almost a year after the first order in Wales was granted in Torfaen against a 15-year-old youth.

We have reported how ASBOs are being used to crack down on youths in Cross Keys after residents said they were living in fear, and we revealed how orders were granted against Peter Wainfur, 16, and brother Mark Wainfur, 13, after they carried out a reign of terror on Newport's Somerton estate.

In December, we reported how Risca's Division Three East league fixture against Ystrad Rhondda had to be cancelled as glass and a used syringe had been thrown on the pitch. In response the police have carried out a crackdown in the area - taking 28 names and addresses of youths congregating in the area.

The information will now be stored on the antisocial behaviour register for a year. If the youths don't present a problem in those 12 months, then their names will be removed. But if there are any more complaints against them, they will move onto the next level of the ASBO.

If they continue to cause problems they could eventually end up with an anti-social behaviour order against them - which could include them being banned from the town. Some of the youths are already on level two because they were at the rugby club both times the police visited.

As an extra measure the youths also had a letter sent to their addresses by the inspector at Risca.

PC Andy Harris, of Risca police, said: "It has been an ongoing problem for about 12 months. We have run various operations but the problem has gone away and come back again.

"This time we increased patrols in answer to complaints from the club, and on two occasions we took a total of 28 names and put them through the ASBO referral system. "Since then it has gone reasonably quiet.

"This is the first big hit we have had. I would say to young people, if you are in a gang who are misbehaving, walk away.

"You will be seen as part of that group, and if you know what they are doing is wrong, by staying you are as guilty as they are."

Les Gardner, secretary of the rugby club, said he had seen an improvement since the police intervention.

PICTURE: Les Gardner, secretary of Risca RFC, and PC Andy Harris