THE phrase anti-social behaviour regularly appears in the news and sits high up on the Government agenda as part of a crackdown on crime.

But in fact, few know what it actually means or the lengths people, in Worcester's case the South Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership, go to to nip the problem in the bud before one is imposed.

The process is divided into three levels, starting with a beat manager or member of the community identifying a youth or a group of youths over 10 years old causing problems.

A letter is sent out to parents informing them of their child's behaviour and youths are made aware their names are now on a database.

"Eighty per cent of these cases are resolved for the cost of a stamp," said community safety support officer for the South Worcestershire police division, Sgt Chris Allen.

"Once we've brought it to the parents' attention, we never hear from them again, which begs the question why do we have to spend the money on the stamp in the first place."

However, if problems continue, the youth will progress to level two.

Parents are visited or called in and made clear what anti-social behaviour is, that it is not acceptable and the options open to them.

These include making use of services offered by Connexions, Social Services, Youth Service, the LEA and the Youth Offending Team.

Parenting courses are also available and mentoring schemes where children over 13 can learn how to form relationships.

At the end of this stage, a formal warning letter is sent to parents warning of the repercussions of future trouble-making.

Sixteen per cent see the error of their ways, leaving four per cent to filter into level three.

At this very personal stage, parents and children are brought in to discuss their issues around a table with a host of agencies.

An action plan is drawn up to help the youth "divert" himself.

"We've seen some remarkable effects," said Mr Allen. "One mum came in and didn't expect the number of people who were taking the time to help them.

"The child is then told how their life will change if they get into the court system; that they will no longer have control of what they do, where they go, and the conditions they would have to adhere to.

Controls life

"The penny can also drop when they see their parent in the meeting saying they are at the end of their tether."

It is a long, drawn-out process and the remaining few find themselves facing an ASBO - a civil action imposed in a criminal court and brought about by the police, local authority or a registered social landlord.

It controls their life for at least two years, involving curfews, being banned from areas of their neighbourhood and prevented from seeing their friends.

Those who breach these conditions face a criminal conviction and could go to prison.

Understanding all this stresses the point that these youths are not just children being children but persistent offenders who destroy people's quality of life.

The extent of the problem was shown recently in the Evening News, where the people of Warndon Villages threatened to take matters into their own hands if anti-social behaviour continued.

Steps are being taken, however, to address the issue. Next month, the city's two leading officers, Supt Simon Adams and Supt Rod Reynolds, will travel to London for a meeting with Louise Casey, the head of the Government's anti-social behaviour unit.

One major problem is people's reluctance to come forward and give evidence. In terms of naming and shaming, Home Secretary David Blunkett has proposed to lift the automatic ban on naming under-18s when they are given an ASBO on top of a criminal conviction.

It means local people will know when a youth has been banned from entering a housing estate or a town centre -so they can alert the police if the order is breached.

Under the present system, some of the youths given ASBOs have only been named after successful appeals by the Press or the police.

Chris Allen, hailed it a major step. "As far as we're concerned, an ASBO is a lost cause option and the aim is early intervention and diversion."

"Many youths do not want to be publicly shamed, but once they are given an ASBO, this is a fundamental part of the process.