Police approached Allerdale Borough Council this year to approve the use of antisocial behaviour laws introduced in January. Inspector Dave Barr, who conceded there was a lack of youth facilities in Wigton, said: "There's a shop and a few takeaways, and that's it. If they can give a valid reason for being in the town centre at night, that's fine, but if not, we'll be taking them home."
Barr added that if the initiative succeeds in reducing crime, it could be extended to the summer holidays.
Lynn Healey, project manager at Wigton Youth Station, the town's only free youth centre, said: "They simply don't have anywhere else to go."
The centre attracts around 200 young people to its evening sessions.
These young people have also been asked to sign a contract pledging to go home after the sessions, which end at 8.30pm, and not gather outside afterwards in groups.
Youth workers say that the curfew threatens the credibility of a fledgling local democracy project, which is encouraging young people to get involved in local politics. "They are just beginning to feel confident about addressing community forums," said Healey. "But youth democracy ends as soon as they leave this building."
Young people in Wigton are upset about the curfew. Stacey Moffat, a 15-year-old youth councillor, said: "It's as though Inspector Barr hasn't listened to anything we've said at the youth forum. We do hang out and talk, but if we get in the way we say sorry."
