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The Scottish executive has come under fire for putting pressure on social work directors to issue more antisocial behaviour orders to children and young people.

Executive officials recently wrote to directors and council chief executives asking them why only four Asbos had been issued to under-16s in Scotland in the past two years and reminding them of the legal obligation to consider their use.

But, in response, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities said councils would only use Asbos as an "ultimate sanction" and that other measures were more effective at tackling the causes of poor behaviour among young people.

Cosla social work spokesperson Eric Jackson said: "The tone of the letter was wrong. They seemed to be suggesting we weren't making use of them but we're not going to get into a race over who's issued the most."