An end to loutish behaviour could be as simple as ABC - Acceptable Behaviour Contracts

The Acceptable Behaviour Contracts are handed out instead of spot fines or criminal penalties.

Thugs and other offenders have to abide by promises which could include "I will not set fire to things", or "I will not damage property".

Breaking the ABCs, which normally last for six months and carry no criminal record, will not automatically mean a punishment either, as they are a voluntary agreement.

ABCs were first introduced four years ago for low-level anti-social behaviour. Almost 25,000 have been issued, and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith now wants a huge expansion in their use.

Her department has produced guidance making it clear that the contracts are to be used instead of criminal penalties.

This will give offenders a chance of avoiding court action - provided they behave themselves.

Miss Smith also published a list of offences which could lead to an ABC. It includes harassment, verbal abuse, criminal damage, writing graffiti, threatening behaviour and racial abuse.

Under-age drinking or smoking, kerb-crawling, prostitution, begging, drug misuse and even joyriding may also qualify.

But Tories accused the Government of effectively downgrading a string of crimes, saying six out of ten ABCs have been breached.

Spokesman James Brokenshire said: "It speaks volumes about the Government's approach to crime and disorder that they believe these serious offences should be punished with an ineffective measure that has a high breach rate.

"Not only will this provide no punishment, it will not deter anyone nor provide justice for the victims."

ABCs can be issued by local councils and police. People who can apply for one to be given include park wardens, police community support officers and teachers.

Under the ABC system offenders can help decide the wording of the contract and what its conditions should be. They will generally have to agree to five different rules.

Those who do not bother to turn up to a first meeting to decide the contract will routinely be given a second opportunity - despite having wasted police time by not attending.

Home Office officials said a system of verbal and written warnings will apply to most breaches. Only those who repeatedly ignore the rules are likely to be handed an Asbo, considered a tougher punishment for thuggery. Their disregard of the contract will be cited as proof of bad behaviour in court.

Miss Smith said the agreements were a way of bringing home the impact of bad behaviour on people and making them take responsibility for their actions.

She added: "I am committed to building on the excellent progress made across the country by the police, local authorities and local communities working together to tackle anti-social behaviour, using the tools and powers available.

"Twenty-five thousand individuals have now faced up to the effect of their behaviour and agreed to change their ways."

Leicestershire Assistant Chief Constable Mike Goodwin, who speaks for ACPO on anti-social behaviour, said: "Police, working together with local authority and youth justice partners, have found that in many cases where ABCs have been issued offending will stop without recourse to legal remedies.

"That is great news for local people whose lives are blighted by antisocial or inconsiderate behaviour."

ABCs now appear likely to replace Asbos as the Government's weapon of choice against anti-social behaviour. Officials say they hope ABCs can "nip bad behaviour in the bud" and reduce the need for Asbos.

But the Tories pointed to research by the National Audit Office on ABCs given to under-18s. It showed that in six out of ten cases the thugs persisted with their bad behaviour