SINCE their introduction in 1999, the number of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders issued in Gwent has grown year on year.

Last week, Newport brothers Calvin, 10, and Kyle Hooper, 12, became the latest youngsters to be issued with the orders.

But the rise in the numbers issued come as Europe's Human Rights Commissioner and the UK's Asbo chief criticised the government for making Asbos too easy too obtain.

Home Office figures show that in Gwent the number of Asbos imposed has risen from just two each year in 2000/1 and 2001/2 to six in 2002/3 and 14 in 2003/4.

Official figures for 2005 are not yet available, but the number of successful council-initiated orders so far this year already totals 24.

This represents a staggering jump in use of the measure. But police and councils across Gwent insist that Asbos are working and their increase is having a positive effect on communities.

They say the rise in their use is down to a better understanding of the powers available to them.

Chief Inspector John Oliver, of the community safety department, Gwent Police, said: "We have found that anti-social behaviour orders are very beneficial within the community most affected by the behaviour of certain individuals.

"The availability of an Asbo is one option however by working with partner agencies and pooling our resources we always seek to modify and find a solution to an individual's behaviour before it reaches the stages of an Asbo."

The public also seems to approve of the orders, which are aimed at dealing with all kinds of unruly behaviour, from violent youth and bad neighbours to graffiti.

A MORI poll last week revealed that 82 per cent of the population supported the idea of Asbos, although 46 per cent cast doubts on their effectiveness.

A spokesman for Newport council, which has issued 16 Asbos so far this year, added: "Anti-social behaviour orders have generally had a positive effect in Newport.

"A number of people are now serving prison sentences for breaches while there are others who have responded positively to the terms of the orders.

"However, it should be noted that securing an anti-social behaviour order is the last part of a three tiered multi-agency approach.

"Newport's Community Safety Wardens aim to tackle any incidents at the earliest opportunity. Court action is taken as a last resort.

"The rise in orders is because we are becoming better at tackling anti-social behaviour - not because of an increase in incidents."

Council bosses insist that the situation is improving, and the Asbos are having an impact.

They say this is shown by the fact that 2003/04 the Newport's community safety wardens handled 12,743 incidents and in 2004/05 it was 10,626, a drop of 16 per cent.