By Marie Foy
mfoy@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

NEW government plans to clamp down on anti-social louts could spell the end of flyposting, litter and graffiti in Northern Ireland, campaigners said today.

Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (or ASBOs) are in the pipeline for the province and aim to exclude offenders from the neighbourhoods where they cause problems.

Anyone breaking the ban could face up to five years in prison.

Environmental group Tidy Northern Ireland said that if the new rules are as successful here as they have been in other parts of the UK , yobs who turn neighbourhoods into tips could be among the first to feel the full force of the law.

"Across the water, ASBOs have been used responsibly and imaginatively, with the net result being that everyone from graffiti artists to owners who've allowed their dogs to foul, have been stopped in their tracks" said the Tidy Northern Ireland's national director Ian Cole.

"The express aim of the orders is to protect the community against people who cause distress and alarm by restricting their criminal actions and naming and shaming them publicly".

The London Borough of Camden has even served banning orders on executives at major record companies Sony and BMG for flyposting.

A recent survey of Northern Ireland revealed that illegal ads were also a significant problem in places such as Dungannon, Belfast and Craigavon.

Other areas where ASBOs could have an effect, Ian said, were vandalism and graffiti.

A survey by Tidy NI showed that urban scrawl was a problem in Strabane (where it was seen at 43% of sites), Belfast, Craigavon and Moyle.

The orders can be served by the police, councils or the Housing Executive and can be issued to anyone over ten years of age. Magistrates then decide whether the order sticks - or is thrown out.

"Ask the public how they think we should crack down on hoods and they'll give you a simple answer: tougher legislation," Ian said. "They are tired of putting up with bad behaviour and want it sanctioned."