HOOLIGANS are set to be banned from areas they terrorise under tough new laws.

And under-18s given anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) by the courts will no longer be automatically prevented from being named and shamed in the press.

The measures are among those in a Government White Paper which is likely to become law this summer after passing through Parliament.

Chief Superintendent Pat Stayt, the police divisional commander for Swindon, today gave the planned measures his enthusiastic backing.

He said: "We are committed to tackling anti-social behaviour because we know how much it affects people, and it looks as if there are some good things in here.

"In general terms, we welcome any new legislation that would assist us and other agencies in tackling anti-social behaviour."

A total of 706 ASBOs have been imposed across England and Wales since the punishment was introduced in April 1999. One was taken out against a boy in Highworth, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

However, the new laws would mean that the names of such under-18s are not automatically kept secret allowing members of the public to recognise and report them to the police if the youthd defy the order.

Police and local authorities, in response to complaints, would also have the power to designate public areas as places where undesirables gather, as well as order them away even if no offence was committed.

Areas in Swindon that have suffered from hooliganism recently include Sussex Square in Walcot where traders have been shutting shops early because they are frightened.

Other measures in the White Paper include:

n on-the-spot fines of up to £80 for hooligans as young as 16;

n houses where Class A drugs such as crack cocaine is sold being closed within 48 hours and sealed for three months to ensure dealers do not return;

n airguns and replicas banned from public places, and the illegal possession or use of a firearm punishable by at least a five-year jail term;

n beggars given criminal records leading to possible drug treatment or jail, rather than being fined and put back on the streets to beg again.

Chief Supt Stayt stressed the moves were only at the White Paper stage and might change by the time they became law.

But he particularly welcomed the idea of hooligans being moved away from designated areas.

He said: "That's quite a strong power and potentially a very useful tool. If we have youths causing disruption in particular areas, this might give us more of an opportunity to deal with it."