GOVERNMENT efforts to breathe new life into a flagship anti-yob initiative have failed to work in North Yorkshire.

The Home Office made a raft of changes to Anti-Social Behaviour Orders in January last year after only ten were issued by local magistrates since their introduction in 1999.

But figures released today show that only a single extra ASBO has been issued in the county since the changes were announced.

The total of 11 is among the lowest in England and falls below the national average per head of population.

By the end of November last year, North Yorkshire has handed down 1.65 ASBOs for every 100,000 residents, compared to 1.79 across England.

ASBOs were supposed to play a vital role in the Government's fight against thugs who terrorise their neighbours.

But police and council officials complained it was difficult to successfully apply for magistrates to issue an order.

This prompted Home Secretary David Blunkett to allow magistrates to issue "interim" ASBOs prior to a full court hearing at the first court appearance.

Other changes include allowing ASBOs to "travel" with the offenders. At present they only place restrictions on a yob's behaviour in specific areas - so when they move they can take their bad behaviour with them.

ASBOs can stop a troublemaker visiting a particular street or building or from harassing a particular person.

Because they are a civil order, they require less strict evidence than if a person was charged with an offence in a criminal court.

They can be used against anyone over ten years old, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison or detention if the order is breached.

Updated: 10:50 Saturday, June 07, 2003