FOXWOOD residents will be celebrating today. Yobs who have made their lives miserable have been brought to book.

These young people terrorised the neighbourhood for months, yelling abuse at passers-by, throwing stones at cars, threatening arson attacks.

Hooligans used to get away with this sort of thing. Not any more. Thanks to the hard work of the police and council officers, and the willingness of the courts to treat these crimes with the seriousness they deserve, the gang has been broken up and subdued.

They are all now subject to anti-social behaviour orders. These will despatch them to prison if they put another foot wrong. It is a punishment that puts the power back where it belongs, in the hands of the law-abiding residents.

This sentence will also act as a valuable deterrent. The message is clear: thugs will not be tolerated.

Updated: 10:34 Tuesday, August 14, 2001