Thousands of parish council wardens are to be given powers to hand out fixed fines for litter, graffiti or noise nuisance offences in the drive against antisocial behaviour.

Tony Blair also confirmed yesterday that the government was looking at expanding the range of offences for which the police can issue on-the-spot fines to include criminal damage, minor theft and the misuse of fireworks.
Ministers are also trying to find ways of giving civil courts the power to ensure that drug abusers who are issued with an antisocial behaviour order (Asbo) can be compelled to undergo drug treatment. Currently only those convicted of a criminal offence can be ordered to take a course.