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Campaigners have criticised a High Court decision to uphold the public “naming and shaming” of three teenagers under anti-social behaviour orders, writes Maria Ahmed.

Personal details and photographs of the boys aged 15, 16, and 18 were distributed to thousands of homes and posted on the internet.

The boys claimed their right to protection of their private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights had been infringed after the Asbos were obtained by the Metropolitan Police and Brent Council in north London.

The judges ruled that widespread publicity given to the boys was “justified, reasonable and proportionate” and dismissed applications for judicial review.

Frances Crook, director of the Howard League for Penal Reform, which recently called for Asbos for children to be abolished, said the judgement put young people at risk.

“Evidence from local authorities suggests that their intention is not to create a safer society but to exploit young people for their own political purposes to show they are doing something about crime,” she said.

She suggested that mediation services would be more effective in dealing with young people in the community.

Pauline Batstone, chair of the National Association of Youth Offending Team Managers, warned the judgement could prejudice future trials.

She said: “If the boys come to court in the future, the authorities will have to find magistrates who do not know them from outside, and this would be expensive.”

She added: “Communities need little outside intervention to become aware of offenders. People are bound to know who they are through the inevitable grapevine.”