BURNLEY'S first two anti social behaviour order cases are almost ready to go to court and a further 22 cases are being monitored.

The council and a number of housing associations are to employ an anti social behaviour officer later this summer in an attempt to reduce cases of nuisance.

Breach of conditions of an anti social behaviour order is a criminal offence.

Coun Gordon Birtwistle told members of the policy committee last night said he was concerned at the lack of numbers as 60 per cent of the cases he dealt with as a ward councillor were regarding nuisance and anti social behaviour. They seemed to be going very slowly.

Coun Harry Brooks said Nero was fiddling while Rome burned but he had nothing on Burnley Council.

While they were going through the bureaucratic obstacle course of nightmarish proportions, people had quite literally been driven out of their own homes.

Coun Peter Kenyon said the process was aimed at preventing anti social behaviour and not simply one of taking people in front of the courts.

The committee agreed a protocol for dealing with cases involving collecting detailed evidence, consultations, case conferences, monitoring and the procedure for making application for an order.