Tearways given antisocial behaviour orders face being fully "named and shamed" in Oxfordshire for the first time.

The Home Office has issued guidelines which say it should be the norm to identify under-18s who are given Asbos -- including publication of their photo.

In most Asbo cases involving juveniles in Oxfordshire, the courts have allowed the media to name a young person, but banned publication of their photo, address or school. In two Oxford Asbo cases there were also bans on releasing names.

Louise Casey, director of the Home Office's Antisocial Behaviour Unit, told the Oxford Mail the fact that a person was under 18 was not an adequate reason for them not to be identified.

She said identifying troublemakers was important in order to successfully enforce Asbo conditions. There needed to be good reasons to protect a young person's identity, such as vulnerability.

"Publicity is to be expected in most cases -- including photographs," she said.

In October, three teenagers from London failed in their legal battle to have publicity about their Asbos declared unlawful under the European Convention on Human Rights.

The judge said leaflets distributed by the London Borough of Brent showing their names, photographs and details of their offences were justified.

Susan Brown, Oxford City Council executive member for crime and community safety, expressed frustration at "half-and-half judgements" in which tearaways had been only partly identified in Oxford.

"It is important that the individual's community fully understands what action has been taken against them, and that they can then help enforce that action," she said.

"It has been shown elsewhere that where there has been publicity it helps give the community back confidence that they can deal with antisocial behaviour."

She added the city council intended to make greater use of leaflets and posters.

There are three under-18s in Barton subject to Asbos, and there has only been one minor breach. They are Kieran Durrant, Ben Strong and Steven Charlett.

County councillor Mick McAndrews, whose ward covers Barton, said the boys involved had remained out of trouble, and publishing their photos would have unnecessarily stigmatised them.

Sue Lutter, justices clerk at Oxford Magistrates' Court, said: "The magistrates are always advised on the case law, and the leading case now is Brent."

She said Brent, and the Home Office guidance, said each case needed to be judged on its individual merits.

"The fact that a person is young is not enough to protect them," she said. "But they are quite clearly challenging issues the magistrates have to take into account when they decide what publicity there should be in the case of youths."

Home Secretary Charles Clarke said: "Publicising Asbos has been tested in the courts and we are making the position clear. Your photo could be all over the local media, and your community will know who you are."