9:45am Thursday 11th March 2010
By Echo Reporter
POLICE officers don't turn up to almost one in four complaints about anti-social behaviour, figures reveal.
And the head of the police inspectorate says urgent action must be taken by senior officers to improve understanding of the toll anti-social behaviour is taking on their communities.
Chief Inspector of Constabulary Denis O'Connor says the recording of information about harassment, criminal damage and verbal abuse is "inadequate" and must be improved immediately.
He said more than half of the 43 forces in England and Wales cannot automatically identify repeat victims, leaving officers in ignorance of some of the most vulnerable people who need help.
A snapshot survey by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary found officers did not turn up to almost one in four (23%) anti-social behaviour complaints and as a result almost all those victims were unhappy with police.
Researchers also found that one in five repeat victims classed themselves as disabled in some way.
Around 3.6 million reports of antisocial behaviour were made in 2008-9, compared with 4.6 million crimes, but officials believe the true figure could be twice as high.
Speaking in central London today, Mr O'Connor said police may need to radically rethink their approach because most victims do not distinguish between anti-social behaviour and crime.
He said people wanted their home to be a safe place, adding: "Even if it is not brilliant, it is their home. If they cannot go home in peace imagine how unnerving it is."
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