Government promises of a new clampdown on anti-social behaviour aimed at children as young as 10 have been dismissed as 'desperate' by a Midland MP.

Ministers yesterday announced plans to impose Asbos on youngsters who refuse to accept help to improve their behaviour, such as treatment for drug addiction.

But the proposal came under fire from Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell (Con Sutton Coldfield) who said ministers had been promising similar measures for years.

Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, unveiled plans to target 1,000 of Britain's worst teenage thugs for "intensive intervention".

They will be expected to accept advice from "an assertive and persistent key worker" who will offer help to tackle the causes of their bad behaviour. For example, if they have a history of substance abuse then drug treatment would be provided.

But if they fail to accept the help on offer or continue to behave badly then they may receive court order such as an Anti-Social Behaviour, compelling them to take part in the programme.

Mr Balls said: "The action plan will go further to tackle anti-social behaviour by making sure we take strong actions to tackle the underlying causes such as substance misuse and family breakdown.

"Recognising these problems doesn’t condone bad behaviour – nor is help a soft option."

He added: "Communities want lasting improvements and that means not only stopping bad behaviour when it occurs but also changing it and intervening early to stop bad behaviour spiralling into future offending.

"That is also why we are investing record sums in positive activities for young people to make sure they have places to go and things to do at weekends and in the evenings."

But Mr Mitchell said: "We have heard all this sort of stuff from the Government at regular intervals over the last few years.

"The fact is that the Government is 16 points behind in the polls and is desperately longing for good headlines to try to relieve their plight."