Mr McConnell visited the Craigie area to see first-hand the problems anti-social behaviour has caused and how those problems are being combated in Dundee.

He met Craigie residents, police and community wardens, and also saw the effect Dundee’s pioneering scheme to issue fixed-penalty notices for minor anti-social behaviour is having on anti-social behaviour.

However, local residents who spoke to the First Minister claimed that still not enough was being done in the area.

Mr McConnell had been due to visit Huntly Square to see how it had been vandalised but, after council contractors repainted the square last night (see story right), he was instead taken to see the Arbroath Road underpass, which has been badly vandalised and misused.

He was guided through the underpass by Paula Cahill and Pat Dailly, who explained groups of up to 40 youngsters often congregated in the area where they drank, took drugs and engaged in other types of anti-social behaviour.

Mr McConnell said the police now had the powers to order the dispersal of such groups, and should now be using them.

After completing his walk through the underpass, he then met more residents from Craigie and Douglas, who discussed the problems further.

Dundee City Council administration leader Jill Shimi and Tayside Police community liaison officer Scott Finlayson joined the First Minister to hear their concerns.

They said large numbers of under-age drinkers would gather in the area and that by the time the police arrived, the youths had left the area, only to return once the police had gone.

Afterwards, Mr McConnell said, “I think the concerns here show we were obviously right to make this (anti-social behaviour) a top priority.

“We were right to introduce dispersal powers and family orders, but the challenge is to make sure they are being used and being used properly.”

Despite the issues residents confronted the First Minister with today, he said Dundee City Council was doing more than many other local authorities.

Mr McConnell said there was the possibility more legislation could be introduced to further reduce incidences of anti-social behaviour.

“We have to keep open the option of giving them more powers but, speaking to people today, I’m confident the laws we put in place were the right start.

“Local authorities and the police have the powers to make sure law abiding families hold the upper hand in our communities — not vandals and criminals.

“The time has come for them to use these powers, to start changing lives for the better.”

Cllr Shimi also said she would be writing to the First Minister in a month’s time to say how the implementation of the powers given to the police and the council were working in the Craigie area.

Mr McConnell also discussed the pilot scheme operating in Tayside where police can issue on the spot fines of £40 for minor offences such as breaches of the peace or urinating in public.

The one-year pilot project was introduced at the start of April with the aim of giving police an alternative way of dealing with low-level anti-social behaviour.

A recipient has 28 days to pay the fine, or can request a court hearing if they feel it has been unfair.

“The Fixed Penalty Notice scheme up and running here in Tayside is exactly the type of project I would like to see extended across the country,” said Mr McConnell.

“It sends out a clear message that crime, no matter how serious, will be punished. It says to vandals and criminals that if you are intent on causing misery, we will make you pay.

“My message today is clear. Scotland’s communities deserve the right to be free of the acts of vandalism and antisocial behaviour that have blighted them for too long.

“We will help local people stand up against thuggery, vandalism and noise, and make a real difference to Scotland.”

Courts were also given new powers to sentence offenders to community reparation orders, ensuring they put something back into the communities they have harmed.