In an exclusive interview, education minister Charles Clarke has issued strong words about two of the most controversial topics affecting Swindon today. GILES SHELDRICK reports.

CABINET minister Charles Clarke has blasted the fact Swindon Council has only issued three Anti-Social Behaviour Orders as "pathetic".

He said local councils had been given powers to stop youths terrorising neighbourhoods and they owed it to the community to use them.

But his criticism has been met with a fierce response from the town's anti-social behaviour co-ordinator, Cheri Wright, who says numbers should not quantify the measure of success in keeping yobs in check.

On the subject of Swindon's crime and disorder team bringing just three ASBOs since 1999, Mr Clarke said: "I think it's a pathetic figure, quite frankly the Government takes this issue very seriously and we're working closely with the police to ensure people can feel confident living in their communities.

"I know the situation can't be turned round overnight, but what councils can do is get stuck in and punish the behaviour that is destroying local communities.

"Swindon Council has no obligation to the Government it has an obligation to the local people."

The first ASBO was taken out against a 15-year-old boy from High-worth, who can't be named for legal reasons. The youth persistently broke the terms of his order and was sentenced to six months in a training and detention centre, but has now been released.

In July this year, 13-year-old Liam Walsh of Corsham Road, Penhill, became the second youth to receive an ASBO, and in September Wezley McGregor, 16, of Drakes Way, Walcot, was issued with an interim ASBO, which banned him from parts of his neighbourhood.

Ms Wright said: "We should not be quantifying how many ASBOs we have issued because we're using alternative methods like acceptable behaviour contracts and early intervention programmes.

"We also work closely with youth offending teams to engage youths as a diversionary measure.

"Should Swindon be compared to places like Manchester or Liverpool? We have significantly fewer problems with anti-social behaviour because we have exhausted other remedies before using ASBOs, which last for a minimum of two years.

Giles Sheldrick