Troublemakers and their families could be evicted from their home as part of a new weapon to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Earlier this week a Twickenham youth was the first to sign an Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC) and a further nine are in the pipeline.

The move is designed to reassure residents in housing estates whose quality of life has been severely affected by graffiti and ant-social behaviour.

However, the contracts are voluntary, not legally binding and last only six months prompting certain quarters to question their effectiveness.

ABCs are drawn-up between the offender, their parents and a panel of representatives from the police, the youth offending team and the relevant housing association.

The agreement requires those responsible for anti-social behaviour to refrain from such activities or face eviction and possibly court action.

In exchange, the offenders will be offered diversionary activities such as extra tuition classes to channel their energy.

But the eviction process is a costly and lengthy legal procedure and the Richmond Housing Partnership (RHP) has only evicted one person for anti-social behaviour.

Cedric Boston, operations director for the RHP, said: We have the power to ask for eviction but it is up to the court to grant us an eviction order.

However, if the individual breaches the ABC then we will have a stronger case to present before the courts.

With youngsters the mere threat of their parents being evicted from their home can be more effective than police action.

ABCs are a much cheaper option to the much-trumpeted anti-social behaviour orders which cost around £100,000 per case which councils have been reluctant to impose because of their prohibitive costs.

Coun Geoffrey Samuel said: Im glad that at long last the council is doing something, but it is too little, too late.

Council leader Serge Lourie said: If this initiative succeeds it will make a big difference to residents quality of life.

By.Steven Shukor