Mr Grayling added: “I will instruct our police to remove young troublemakers from our streets altogether, not just move them on to disrupt a different street.

“If police find young people doing something stupid out in their communities, I think we should give them the power, sometimes, to take them to a police station and make their parents come and get them. For their own safety and protection as much as anything.

“We are exploring the best way of making this possible, but it has got to be the right thing in some cases.

“Our police should have powers to go straight to a magistrate and get an order against that troublemaker, confining them to their homes for up to a month – except for during school hours.

“And, if they break that curfew order, they should expect to find themselves in the cells.”

Mr Grayling's comments are the latest move by the Conservatives towards more traditional policing.

Last month, the Opposition pledged to protect adults who challenged unruly children in the street from prosecution.

Mr Grayling said the Tories would give police more freedom to act with discretion, but expected results in return.

And he said there was a “strong case” to end the relaxation of licensing laws which have introduced 24-hour drinking in some cities.

Speaking about child curfews, he said: “These troublemakers need a firm hand. That is why I am recommending the grounding orders, so when a local policeman on the street is confronting a young troublemaker, he has an immediate weapon at hand to deal with the problem.”

Paul Cavadino, head of crime reduction charity Nacro, urged caution over the proposals to restrict the liberty of young people.

He said: “The proposal for a month-long house arrest power is a very substantial restriction on a child’s liberty.”