The Scottish government have drawn up a new framework to combat anti-social behaviour with more preventative measures to be taken.

Fergus Ewing, community safety minister, announced the plans last week outlining his party's intention to tackle the "blight" on communities through "intervention and prevention."

He said: “This new framework is aimed at promoting positive outcomes, preventing antisocial behaviour before it occurs, resolving such behaviour effectively when it does occur and helping agencies work together more effectively.”

The report, published jointly with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities COSLA, reviewed national behaviour and found that early and effective intervention were key to the solution.

The new report aims to address the root causes such as drugs, alcohol and deprivation and not just the symptoms. Another of the schemes aims to offer youngsters role models and mentors in a bid to positively influence them.

Mr Ewing said: "The work carried out by Scottish Sports Futures, is an example of the kind of initiatives we want to see."

Scottish Sports Futures was set up in 2000 and is a charitable government organisation that aims to offer youth and communities opportunities to get fit and play sports.

In light of criticism from opposition parties Mr Ewing restated that it was not a complete move away from Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, saying: “It is not about abandoning what went before but about being smarter in how we tackle the problem. We should be focusing on tackling the symptoms of the problem and working together better to achieve shared outcomes.”

Opposition branded the move an “abandonment of responsibility” by the SNP government.

Paul Martin, Scottish Labour's community safety spokesman, said the new framework was regressive and a step away from theASBO scheme introduced by the Labour-Lib Dem coalition.

He said: "Fergus Ewing talks about twilight basketball and cash-back for communities as a way of helping deal with anti-social behaviour—we agree—that's why we set up the initial schemes. But along with prevention you also need effective deterrents and this framework effectively sweeps those away."

Mr Martin added: "When communities are put under pressure by anti-social behaviour, they'll know which party was happy to offer no effective deterrent. The SNP are abandoning communities - Scotland deserves better."

The National Council for Civil Liberties have praised the move towards "constructive intervention" however, they said they would "welcome" a move away from ASBOs for minors.

"Giving under-16s ASBOs stigmatises and criminalises them but frequently fails to improve their behaviour," said James Welch, Legal Director of Liberty.