CRIME prevention bosses in the Ribble Valley are calling for tougher penalties for people who breach anti-social behaviour orders.

The Ribble Valley Crime and Disorder Prevention Partnership, spearheaded by the Ribble Valley borough council, has written to the Home Office and Blackburn magistrates asking them to take ASBOs more seriously.

Ribble Valley BoroughThe council's policy development officer, Bill Alker, said: "We have noticed people breaching anti-social behaviour orders are getting small fines.

"A lot of work goes into issuing the orders, so we need them to be taken seriously. We feel inadequate penalties are being handed out for ASBO breaches and have written to the Home Office and the Blackburn Magistrates Bench expressing concern over the matter."

The Government is expected to publish new guidelines on penalties for breaches of anti-social behaviour orders in the New Year.

There are two active anti-social behaviour orders in the Ribble Valley, one of which was issued against an 11-year- old Clitheroe boy in 2001.

At the time he was the youngest person in the country to receive an order, which banned him from certain areas of the town for two years. However, he only received a £20 fine for breaching it.

The Ribble Valley Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, established in 1998, is spearheaded by Ribble Valley Borough Council. Its members include the police, probation service, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, schools and health professionals.