HOME Office plans to make anti-social behaviour orders easier to use could see a greater clampdown on teenage yobs in Bolton.

The Government introduced the orders -- which can ban offenders from areas where they cause trouble -- three years ago.

But so far the powers have not been used often by police and local authorities, who blame the amount of bureaucracy involved in obtaining an order for their unpopularity.

Last month Bolton Council was successfully granted the first order in the borough when 14-year-old Shane Gibbons was banned from areas near his Sharples home for five years.

And council officials are considering taking action against 27 other problem teenagers.

Home Secretary David Blunkett agreed that the process to obtain ASBOs is too cumbersome and is now proposing reforms.

"Other than on violence and sexual crime, one thing that really gets to people most is anti-social behaviour -- thuggery, the breakdown of respect and order," he said. "Anti-social behaviour orders are an excellent idea but there has been too much bureaucracy and the process has got in the way. We are going to slim all that down."

The planned changes were welcomed by Bolton South-east MP Brain Iddon. He said: "I am in favour of anything that helps the situation."

Gillian Hughes, anti-social behaviour co-ordinator at Bolton Council, said they also approved.

"Bringing in interim orders might encourge witnesses to come forward and would help us protect them from intimidation.

"We also support the idea of the ASBO travelling with a person. For example, if Shane Gibbons went over the border to Bury the order should still apply because it's the same police authority.

"Overall we welcome the proposals but they should still be for only the most persistent offenders and other options should be looked at first.

"I think it is still likely that the number we impose will be quite small -- about five or six a year, not in the 20s and 30s." MEASURES which Mr Blunkett wants to introduce to "fast track" obtaining anti-social behaviour orders include:

an interim ASBO which will work like an injunction, protecting a community from a persistent offender until a full court hearing;

creating ASBOs which can "travel" with a person. This would stop offenders moving to other areas and resuming their bad behaviour;

allowing social landlords and the British Transport Police to apply for the orders as well as the police and council;

working with the Lord Chancellor's Department to see if county courts could make orders.