A BID to introduce a scheme to combat disruptive behaviour in Malmesbury has been delayed by seven months because of bureaucracy.

Antisocial behaviour orders were introduced in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to clamp down on people, mainly youths, who persistently harass others.

The scheme which police wanted to introduce in Malmesbury would give them the power to act before an order is needed.

Forms would be available so people could report incidents of antisocial behaviour. Police could then send a standard letter to troublemakers asking them to stop their antisocial behaviour and inviting the individual, or parent of a youth, to the station to discuss the problem.

If this failed police could apply for an antisocial behaviour order.

The scheme was due to be introduced in Malmesbury before Christmas last year, but there was a dispute between the police and Wiltshire County Council over North Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership's logo.

The partnership, a group involving the police, local councils, and other organisations, was due to have its logo at the top of all the documents, but the county council was concerned the scheme was aimed too much at young people and wanted the phrase "some local youths" removed from one of the documents.

Malmesbury police sergeant Gavin Williams admitted that there had been delays and said he still could not give a date when the scheme would finally be up and running.

He said: "We are working hard to introduce it as soon as we can. It has taken a long time.

"Although we have the same goal, different agencies have different perspectives and ways of dealing with the problem.

"We need to work together in a partnership approach to make it work.

"We have extended an open invitation for other agencies to join us."

County councillor John Thomson said he was in favour of the bid to curb antisocial behaviour.

He said he would be meeting with council officers to try to resolve the problem.

"It is political correctness gone berserk. We can't be seen to discriminate against one group or have one group singled out. I support the police 100 per cent in what they are doing."

In the last few months youths have been blamed for damage to the Cloister Gardens, and Backhill residents have written to the police complaining of youths congregating by the bench at the top of the steps.

Sgt Williams said the town did not have a high crime rate and it was a small minority that were causing problems.

He said police would continue to take positive action on any information received and the antisocial order system, when introduced, would be an extra tool they could use.

Police and local authorities have the power to request an antisocial behaviour order from the court and orders can set conditions prohibiting specific anti-social acts or assign off-limit areas to an individual.

It is effective for a minimum of two years and can result in a five-year prison sentence if broken.

Sgt Williams said the vast majority of antisocial behaviour could be dealt without the need to apply to the court for an antisocial behaviour order.

David Forward of Hobbes Close, Malmesbury, who described his two children's their rowdy behaviour on the town's website, said the scheme sounded fine, but he did not think it would tackle the problem.

He said: "If they have voluntary police constables they should have voluntary mentors as well.

"Kids need someone to look up to and realise their potential.

"Introducing more punishments will not stop the problem of antisocial behaviour."