ALMOST a quarter of anti-social behaviour orders issued in Worcestershire last year were breached more than once.

Statistics obtained by the Worcester News under the Freedom of Information Act, reveal 11 of the 42 Asbos made were breached on more than one occasion, with two breached more than five times.

Fifteen Asbos, which are civil orders made against a person who has engaged in anti-social behaviour, were breached altogether - although none more than 10 times.

Despite the figures, Ser-geant Chris Allen, anti-social behaviour co-ordinator for south Worcester-shire, has reassured the public that the system is working and boasts a 98 per cent success rate in the region. "I don't think you can say that because somebody breaches their Asbo that Asbos don't work - that's not the case," he said.

He said the small number of repeated breaches were often down to the chaotic lifestyle of individuals, such as street drinkers or people who enjoy causing trouble. "We are not just picking on the weak, but people who are disrupting the community," he said.

He said the key to south Worcestershire's success was its three-stage diversionary process.

At stage one, a letter is sent out warning individuals about their behaviour.

Stage two involves officers calling at the subject's home to challenge their behaviour, and stage three involves a multi-agency meeting where evidence is shared and an action plan drawn up to stop the behaviour. The Asbo is the last resort.

Sgt Allen said that then if the terms of the Asbo were not adhered to the offender would have to go to prison.

PC Andy Holliday, north Worcestershire police's anti-social behaviour co-ordinator, said: "Anti-social behaviour orders are a very positive way of stopping individuals from behaving offensively. Only a small number of the people we work with to change their behaviour will receive one, and then as a last resort.

"Asbos are not a badge of honour. They are a tool to change bad behaviour.

"Publicity is an important part of effectively implementing the orders, and we are dealing with breaches effectively by bringing offenders before the courts with the help of local people who tell us when they are not being complied with."

Anti-social behaviour is "conduct which causes or is likely to cause alarm, harassment, or distress to one or more persons not of the same household as him or herself".

Between January 2004 and December 2006, 78 people in Worcestershire breached their Asbo. Of these, 35 were in Worcester, five in Malvern, seven in Wych-avon, 11 in Wyre Forest, six in Bromsgrove and 15 in Redditch.