A new yob hotline has been launched in a bid to track down anti-social offenders.
Anti-social behaviour crackdown - Chief Supt Dave Hudson, of Tendring Police, Joe Tuke, of the Home Office, and Terry Allen, Tendring Council leader, take a tour through Jaywick to see how the area has benefitted from Asbos. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN (45135-3)
The new Home Office phone line for the Tendring district went live yesterday.
The aim of the hotline is to provide a central national reporting point for residents in Tendring to report all forms of anti-social behaviour.
But Tendring councillor Michael Talbot questioned how police could deal with it if the scheme saw a massive influx of reports from criminal damage to graffiti.
He said: "How will the police be expected to respond to this if there's a great number of calls as there's certain to be?"
Chief Supt Dave Hudson denied there would be a problem saying that they would grade all calls for priority just as they do currently.
It was stressed that many calls would also fall into the council's responsibility such as fly-tipping and noise nuisance - and not the police's.
Tendring is one of 47 areas in the country picked to take part in the Home Office scheme in a joint initiative between Tendring police and Tendring Council.
The line will be manned from 8.45am and 5.15pm by a dedicated anti-social behaviour officer and have a 24-hour answer phone in service. The number is 0845 605 2222.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Thursday, September 22, 2005
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