Anti-Social Behaviour Cuts 'A Very Significant Mistake'

A police watchdog has said it would be "a very significant mistake" to cut efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Sir Denis O'Connor, the Chief Inspector of Constabulary has spoken out about slow response rates in some areas across England and Wales.

Should the Home Office continue with spending cuts, he warned that the problem of anti-social behaviour could tip some areas into a "spiral of economic and social decline".

The chief inspector's warning comes after a review of how well forces deal with anti-social behaviour. The review is backed by a survey involving approximately 5,600 people.

Although the police force are "acutely aware" of the impact of anti-social behaviour, the police chief said that officers often did not take anti-social behaviour seriously because they did not regard it as real crime.

He believes a "feet on the street" approach would be the best way forward and warned chief constables to carefully consider making further cuts.

Mr. O'Connor commented: "Confronted by spending cuts, some police chiefs and community safety partnership members may be tempted to reduce the amount of work they do in relation to ASB and to concentrate instead upon volume crime.

"All the evidence we have available indicates that this would be a very significant mistake."

(BMcN/GK)