The British Government was accused yesterday of failing to get to grips with anti-social behaviour after plans were revealed to give 40 areas of England and Wales with the worst social problems special help.

The Home Office's anti-social behaviour adviser Louise Casey said councils would have to agree to introduce "respect zones" to crack down on yobbish behaviour in exchange for extra resources.

The Conservatives dismissed the plan as a gimmick and said it was an admission of failure by Prime Minister Tony Blair's government, which has pledged to tackle delinquency and other anti-social behaviour.

Casey said the areas were selected based on high levels of anti-social behaviour, but also on truancy, exclusion from school and other issues indicating deprivation.

"We approached these local authorities and asked if they wanted to become respect areas and now they have signed up for it," said Casey.

The areas, due to be identified next month, will be expected to use the full range of powers available to them to combat their problems.

"This is an admission of government failure," Conservative shadow home secretary David Davis said.

"The fact the government is resorting to having to bribe local authorities to sign up to their gimmicks betrays just how unsuccessful they have been.

"The government should ditch the gimmick-led approach and start respecting the public's intelligence."

Anti-social behaviour required simple, practical measures such as putting more police on the streets to catch and deter those who commit anti-social behaviour and a real commitment to tackling the causes of crime, Davis said.

ASBOS, or anti-social behaviour orders, one of Labour's flagship measures to tackle yobbish behaviour, have been criticised as ineffective and some experts say they have become a "badge of honour" for youngsters rather than a deterrent.

Source: China Daily