With an arrogance typical of the worst of youth, the two teenage brothers hurling rocks at the windows of family homes yelled: "Call the police - they can't do anything."

Now they have learned the hard way that the police can and will take action. And it is a message they are hammering home to other troublemakers.

Jamie Ridgeway, 16, and brother Lee, 14, of Fort Road, Newhaven, were arrested and have been made the subject of interim ASBOs - anti-social behaviour orders - by Lewes magistrates.

Police said the pair were responsible for a spate of vandalism and harassment in the town.

They have been banned from the town centre and must also abide by a lengthy list of conditions, which include an 8pm to 5am curfew.

If they break the terms of the ASBO they face custody.

Henry Page, 52, from Newhaven, is particularly pleased. Last month he wrote to The Argus about problems of juvenile delinquency in the town.

He said: "I want to single out Chief Inspector Bob Gough for praise. He has made a huge difference since he took over command here.

"Previously we'd have to wait an hour for a police response to an incident. Now they are here in five minutes.

"The police are working really hard."

Mr Page said he and the town would be watching local courts with interest. Anyone breaching the terms of an ASBO can be sent to prison or a juvenile detention centre and Mr Page wants to ensure courts exercise their powers.

He said: "If the police action is not backed up by the courts then we shall be writing to the Home Secretary."

Mr Page firmly supported new laws which "name and shame" juvenile offenders who receive ASBOs.

He said: "Far too much time is spent trying to understand the persistent offender while the victims of their abhorrent behaviour get no help from the judicial system whatsoever.

"Until I moved to Newhaven five years ago I did not fully appreciate what juvenile anti-social behaviour was nor was I acquainted with the effect that children had upon their victims."

Some residents have fitted surveillance cameras to their properties to identify offenders.

He said: "Newhaven has been blighted by youths who commit criminal damage and acts of intimidation. We have seen arson attacks on our local Woolworths and the municipal multi-storey car park."

He added no one was celebrating the imposition of ASBOs on the young brothers but added: "Many of the townsfolk are relieved at this development and clearly hope this is the turning point in the mindless vandalism we have seen."

Mr Gough said the ASBOs were part of an on-going effort to crack down on anti-social behaviour in Newhaven, Peacehaven and Seaford.

Burglaries, robberies and car thefts were down in what was already a low crime area but he agreed vandalism and anti-social behaviour had increased.

He promised: "My officers are working tirelessly to ensure these crimes, committed mainly by children from our own communities, are properly investigated, utilising the criminal and anti-social behaviour laws available to us."