Ordinary people will get the right to spark a range of court orders to curb graffiti, vandalism and street gangs.

Petitions, public meetings or even highly localised referendums could be used to impose anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos), curfews and dispersal orders where communities have been terrorised. These would then be rubber-stamped by the police and local authorities, at present the only bodies with the authority to apply for the orders.