John calls for tougher action on anti-social behaviour

SOUTH Yorkshire is one of the worst parts of the country for anti-social behaviour.

Figures released by MP John Healey show the police force area has the second highest rate of incidents in England and Wales, behind only Greater Manchester.

Nearly 90,000 incidents were recorded by police in 2012, which is 65.7 per 1,000 residents.

Within South Yorkshire, Sheffield has the highest rate of offences (73.7) followed by Rotherham (68.7).

The average in England and Wales is 42 and in Yorkshire and the Humber 43.5.

Mr Healey said the Government should not scrap the ASBO and called for faster action against anti-social behaviour.

He said: “Anti-social behaviour is a serious problem and it can make people’s lives a misery.

“The Government’s official crime survey has found more than eight out of 10 people think anti-social behaviour has got worse in the last year and nearly a third said they had personally been a victim of or witnessed yobbish behaviour.

“The Government is turning the clock back with their plans to scrap the ASBO and replace it with a weaker power which carries no criminal sanction for a breach.

“The Government’s ‘community trigger’ which demands a response if a person has complained three times just isn’t good enough. People have the right to expect action right away.”

Mr Healey has written to South Yorkshire’s Chief Constable David Crompton and Police and Crime Commissioner Shaun Wright asking what the force is doing to tackle anti-social behaviour.