FIFTY of the most notorious yobs in Wirral are to be targeted by Merseyside Police and the council in the first phase of a massive new crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

The initiative is part of a wider scheme introduced by the Government that will aim to strengthen the peninsulas commitment to take swift and effective action against local problems such as intimidation, nuisance neighbours, vandal-ism, graffiti and rubbish dumping.

The Government has ann-ounced that Wirral is to become one of 50 areas in England and Wales to be designated by the Home Office as a new 'Together Anti-Social Behaviour Action Area.'

The designation means that the Government will provide the council and its partners with extra money and advice to tackle the area's anti-social behaviour issues.

The campaign will initially aim to neutralise the borough's 50 most prolific yobs through the use of evictions, Asbos and criminal proceedings.

It will focus on community links and encourage local people to actively engage with the problems that are blighting their community.

Home Office minister Hazel Blears said: "There will be no let-up in our campaign to tackle anti-social behaviour.

"We know that too many communities are still blighted by the yobbish behaviour of a few.

"We all have a right to live in safe, secure communities, but we also have responsibility to help create those communities. The active engagement of local people is vital to stopping yobbish behaviour and creating strong communities.

"We need a partnership approach, with local auth-orities and police, supported by the Government, working with the local community to tackle their problems. We have seen over the past year what can be achieved, and I am glad that Wirral is joining with us to do more."