Crackdown on crime hot spots

Police and council officers have joined forces to target trouble hot spots and known serious and persistent offenders.

The new anti-social behaviour team, led by Sgt Christine Wood, will work from council offices in Southampton and include officers from the city's community safety team and housing services.

It is hoped the new approach will encourage information sharing and provide opportunities for earlier intervention and support.

Nick Murphy, executive director for housing, communities and regeneration, said: "Most of Southampton's residents are law-abiding citizens who respect their neighbours.

"Unfortunately, a small minority cause intolerable nuisance and distress by their actions. We are already doing a lot to tackle anti-social behaviour but by setting up this team and a new city patrol we are stepping up a gear in how we tackle persistent cases."

Southampton will soon have a patrol of uniformed officers with the power to hand out fixed penalty notices to people engaging certain types of anti-social behaviour.

The council is also increasing the number of neighbourhood wardens, which have already proved popular with residents in parts of Southampton where they have been introduced.

The launch of the new team coincides with the publication of a new government White Paper on anti-social behaviour, entitled Respect and Responsibility.

The document contains a number of proposals which should make it easier for local authorities to deal with neighbours from hell and close down noisy premises.

There are also measures to allow police to close crack houses within 48 hours and for up to three months, and to designate areas where officers can disperse intimidating gangs of youths and take home unaccompanied minors late at night.

Plans are also in hand to help police deal with parents who do not control their disorderly children, aggressive beggars, and the banning of replica guns in public and the sale of spray paints to under-18s.