A PURGE was today launched on anti-social behaviour in Blackburn and Darwen after the borough was made a pilot area for a government crackdown.

The council is one of 50 in the country, which also include Burnley, to be given £30,000 from the Home Office to step up efforts to rid communities of yobs and families from hell.

Tactics to be used include targeting the top 25 anti-social behaviour cases in the borough and encouraging people to come forward with information so evidence can be gathered on troublemakers.

Drug treatment orders can be added to an ASBO even if the defendant does not have a relevant criminal conviction.

There will also be provisions for making the parents of under-10s (below the age of criminal responsibility) liable for compensation.

The extra cash will allow the council's community safety partnership, which is run with the police, to step up its efforts. Council officers will draw up actions plans in the next few weeks to outline how their onslaught will work.

Blackburn MP and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw who introduced ASBOs as Home Secretary after experiencing major low level crime and nuisance problems in his constituency praised the latest improvements to the system.

He said: "I am glad this new initiative recognises Blackburn's pioneering role in the devising and use of ASBO powers.

"But it is important that better use is made of these powers if they are to have their full effect. I am glad these changes will make it easier to deal with the nuisance neighbours who make life so difficult for many hard working and respectable families in the town and elsewhere.''

Ministers have revealed that 2,600 ASBOs were handed out in the last year, double the number issued in the previous four years.

The police have also used new powers to disperse groups of youths more than 400 times in the last year, and closed 150 crack houses under new laws.

Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration at the council, welcomed the announcement. He said: "I hope that by identifying the worse offenders and putting in place a plan of action to address the problems we can send out a clear message that

we are not going to tolerate anti-social behaviour."

Chief superintendent David Mallaby, the borough's police commander, said: "The fact that Blackburn with Darwen has been chosen as an action area is fantastic news for the borough."