Inspector Ian Bamber said that the dispersal order introduced in Stratton the first in Swindon had already had a positive result.

"Stratton has worked quite effectively," he said.

"The areas that were of concern before don't have the same problems they did have, and incidents of anti-social behaviour have gone down."

Chief Insp Paul Williams said that officers had used the powers provided by the order on several occasions.

"So far we seem to have reduced the incidence of anti-social behaviour, but it is a little bit early to tell exactly how successful it has been," he added.

Kim Young, senior cashier at the Key Store in Rainer Close, which had suffered problems with youths running around and abusing staff, said teenagers did not loiter outside the shop as much as they used to.

The existence of the scheme was serving as a deterrent to unruly behaviour, she said.

"The kids still come in but normally if you tell them to move and threaten to call the police they usually go away."