HELPING Hampshire families stay together will do more to tackle yobs and gangs than dishing out ASBOs, Tory leader David Cameron has told the Daily Echo.

Mr Cameron branded Antisocial Behaviour Orders "gimmicks" because they failed to encourage people to behave responsibly.

He is due to visit Hampshire today as part of the Conservatives' local election campaign.

Included in his visit will be opening the Chilworth to Southampton cycle path and meeting local election candidates.

Before he arrived he said that, instead of slapping ASBOs on teenagers "like confetti", councils should focus on cleaning up the streets, which he claimed would improve behaviour and cut crime. The Govern-ment needed to "create a culture" which strengthened families and fostered responsible behaviour rather than coming up with "short-term approaches".

This meant encouraging marriage, giving people more control over how taxpayers' money was spent locally and getting people off benefits and into work.

Mr Cameron told the Daily Echo: "We have to look at the long-term problem.

"Why are gangs so prevalent in our cities? It's because our borders are insecure and guns are coming in, and it's because of family breakdown taking place so badly in so many of our communities.

"We need to have politicians prepared to do the long-term, patient work, helping to create a culture that is family-friendly and that encourages people to come together and stay together rather, than endlessly churning out new headline-generating gimmicks."

However, asked whether he would scrap ASBOs, Mr Cameron said he "certainly wouldn't".

He said: "In some cases they are the right thing to use. But in some areas they are handed out like confetti and when they are breached nothing happens."

Alan Whitehead, Labour MP for Southampton Test, accused Mr Cameron of being "completely out of touch" with public opinion.

He said: "All David Cameron has to offer is hot air and warm wishes. ASBOs have proved very important in helping communities tackle antisocial behaviour, and they need to be supported, not denigrated."

ASBOs, which last at least two years, can prohibit people from committing specific anti-social acts, going to certain areas or hanging out with other troublemakers.

Breaching an order is a criminal offence, punishable by up to five years in jail.

Home Office figures show Hampshire councils dished out 113 ASBOs in 2005 - up from 101 in 2004.