However, council bosses have failed to answer the Tele’s questions about its use of the orders, breaching Freedom of Information legislation in the process.

The local authority has long claimed to be “at the forefront of pioneering initiatives” to tackle blights on communities.

Figures show the council and its partner agencies have made regular use of the powers contained in the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2004.

In the period to the end of March, Dundee was responsible for more than half of the 14 Asbos taken out against under-16s in Scotland.

Questions have been asked about the effectiveness of the measure, particularly in light of figures from the Scottish Government which indicated £7million had been ploughed into the scheme.

Authorities in the city have also imposed electronic monitoring on 13 young people through the Children’s Hearings system.

And Dundee is one of only three Scottish council areas to have seen a Restriction of Liberty Order imposed on a person under 16.

Adult Asbos were taken out 25 times in 2007/08, bringing the total since 2003 to 94.

Councillor Jim Barrie, SNP social work spokesman, said, “The number of Asbos against adults works out at about 20 a year, and that’s 20 too many really.

“It’s clear every city in Scotland has its problems, and the question is what do we do to reduce this? We have to address it — we can’t just let it go.

“That fact there are under-16s on Asbos or having restrictions of liberty placed upon them is a worrying trend.

“I’m on the police board and recall at the last meeting attended by John Vine as chief constable he said a lot of people regard the police as being like babysitters.

“There are children who are not being brought up to realise they can’t act in that way.”

Earlier this summer, we asked the authority how many Asbos it had sought and obtained in each of the last three years.

The council was also asked the ages of the people involved, the nature of the behaviour which led to each order and the conditions attached.

More than two months later, despite the law stating the council should respond within 20 working days, no answers have been forthcoming. Repeated requests for the information have gone unheeded, with officials apologising for the delay.

Councillor Barrie said the council’s failure to respond to the Freedom of Information request was a “matter of concern” and that he would be raising it with officials.