Campaigners have warned that the Home Office's forthcoming anti-social behaviour unit must not focus on punishing young offenders without helping them address their behaviour.

Anita Dockley, assistant director of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said she was concerned that the unit, to be launched in the new year, would push children in need into the criminal justice system.

Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said that she did not want the unit to punish those who commit antisocial behaviour without looking at long-term outcomes.

"The unit faces a set of complex problems and we hope it comes up with complex solutions, which must involve young people taking responsibility for their actions to tackle the problem," Lyon said.

The unit is due to start next year and will be headed by Louise Casey, currently the director of the government's homelessness directorate.

Casey said she wanted to work in partnership with local communities to address issues surrounding antisocial behaviour.

A Home Office spokesperson said the Anti-social Behaviour Bill promised in the Queen's speech was due to be published by February next year.