A record number of Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) were dished out in Wandsworth at the end of last year.

The council's antisocial behaviour unit issued 13 ASBOs in the last three months of 2006, against individuals whose unruly and disorderly behaviour sparked legal action.

A total of 42 council tenants were taken to court by the housing department and threatened with eviction from their homes as a result of their antisocial behaviour.

The council also secured 26 Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABC) - a list of dos and don'ts which, if breached, can result in an ASBO.

ASBOs usually contain a list of prohibitions which remain in place for at least two years, ranging from banning a person from entering a certain area or associating with certain individuals, to carrying certain banned items and frightening or intimidating others.

Anyone convicted of breaching any of the prohibitions faces immediate imprisonment and/or a fine. Adults can be jailed for up to five years, while juveniles can be placed in custody for two years.

Councillor James Cousins, executive member for regeneration and community safety, said: "People who plague their neighbourhoods with persistent unruly and disorderly behaviour should be under no illusions as to what will happen to them.

"If they are a council tenant they face losing their homes and under these circumstances will be deemed to have made themselves intentionally homeless, and so will not be rehoused by another local authority or housing association in England or Wales.

"The local community can rest assured that the council is working closely with our colleagues in the police to deliver a safer borough."

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