ASBOS were given to 329 Merseyside children – some as young as 10 – in a decade, new Home Office figures revealed.

The total for under-18s was approaching half of the 720 anti-social behaviour orders issued in the Liverpool city-region since 2000.

But their use to restrict their movements is dwindling, partly because among some youngsters they are seen as “badges of honour”.

The number of child Asbos annually peaked at 57 in 2005, but by 2009 had dropped to 35.

That trend was reflected in the overall figures which reached a 128 high before falling to 114 in the same two years. In Cheshire, the 10-year total was 329, of whom 113 were under 18, and in Lancashire the figures were 680 and 283 respectively.

Across England and Wales the total was 18,670, of whom 7,248 were children. Again the overall peak – 4,122 – was in 2005, falling to 1,671 in 2009.

Asbos were introduced by Labour to curb unruly and abusive youngsters, noisy neighbours, litter louts and other social pests without having to go through the criminal court procedures.

But previous figures show that more than half are breached – sometimes on several occasions – and Asbos banning offenders from certain estates or neighbourhoods are routinely ignored.

Critics also claimed that Absos went against the traditions of British justice, and their use has tailed off, according to official estimates yet to be published, since the coalition took power last May.

Home Secretary Theresa May said: “The current tools and powers for dealing with anti-social behaviour don’t work effectively.”