MORE than half of all anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) in Notts are breached by offenders, new figures reveal.

Of the 54 per cent breached since June 1, 2000, Home Office statistics show they were broken 5.2 times on average.

Nottingham City Council leader Jon Collins insists they are effective.

He said: "They have been an effective tool in tackling anti-social behaviour as our ability to deal with those issues that trouble citizens the most has increased hugely since their introduction.

"In recent years, people in Nottingham have begun to have a sense that anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhoods has reduced and is under control in a way that it wasn't before the introduction of Asbos and our focus on neighbourhood policing."

Basford councillor Mick Newton, who has praised police after a crackdown on thugs in Vernon Park, said Asbos didn't work for everyone.

"These orders were first brought in to modify behaviour and act as a carrot rather than a stick," he said.

"Quite clearly they have worked in a high number of cases. But for some individuals they are seen as a badge of honour and we must find harsher punishments for these people."

Asbos can prevent someone from entering a certain area, behaving in a certain way or associating with certain people. Breaching one is a criminal offence.

In Notts, they have helped tackle begging and prostitution, stopping sex workers from entering certain areas or associating with certain people. Houses used for drug dealing have been closed using Asbos and eviction notices.

Tenants Emily Moore and Zahoor Hussain were evicted from a crack house in The Park earlier this month.

The city council estimates that prostitution has reduced by 45 per cent in Nottingham over the last four years and begging reduced by 90 per cent in the city centre since 2008, as a result of ASBOs.

However, Home Secretary Theresa May called for a review into ASBOs yesterday and said it was "time to move beyond" them.

Between June 1, 2000, and December 31, 2008, 55 per cent of all Asbos were breached across England and Wales.

They were breached on average 4.2 times.

But Mr Collins said: "We would be concerned about any plans to scrap Asbos without any realistic alternative in place. We would rather see something that builds on Asbos by bringing other enforcement tools together."