GWENT'S top policeman admitted that his force has failed to hit government targets to slash anti-social behaviour.

In fact, the numbers have actually gone up by 25 per cent in the past 12 months.

Chief Constable Michael Tonge made the admission at the annual general meeting of Gwent Police Authority - and was told by members of the authority that yobs who hang around the streets heaping misery on communities will not be beaten unless the authorities get tough.

National targets challenged police forces in England and Wales to reduce public disorder offences by five per cent year on year - but in the year up to June 2004, Gwent police recorded 7,053 offences of anti-social behaviour compared to 5,658 the year before - a 25 per cent increase.

The figures were presented to the meeting - and Gwent councillors sitting on it queued up to tell tales of how yobs, many of them youngsters, are intimidating residents.

Former Caerphilly council leader Lindsay Whittle said: "We find ourselves having to repeatedly warn those who break their anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs).

"At some point, those breaking ASBOs need to be punished because if we seem reluctant to enforce the orders and that becomes common knowledge among the street-wise characters causing all the trouble, then ASBOs won't be worth the paper they're written on."

Councillor John Williams, of Blaenau Gwent council, said: "The biggest problem we have in Blaenau Gwent is anti-social behaviour and we're not getting to grips with it because we're not organised enough."

But Mr Tonge told the members that no police force can tackle society's problems alone and called for more cross-agency work as partnerships to defeat anti-social behaviour.

"It is the biggest issue we face, youngsters who know their rights but show no understanding of their responsibilities", he said.

"They have no respect for the law or any other authority so it's difficult to deter them. We need to work with schools, local authorities and youth groups because if Gwent Police is left alone to solve the problem the long-term prospects are not good.

"Ward officers, PCSOs and special constables must work with other agencies to give these young people civic pride through community-based activities and education."