'Anti-social behaviour officer' for every force

EVERY police force in England and Wales will receive a new dedicated officer to clamp down on the scourge of anti-social behaviour.

- By David Williamson

They will work with locals and businesses on action plans to stop yobs and criminals in their tracks, while making communities safer.

The announcement comes amid efforts to boost neighbourhood officers by 13,000 by 2029 to "turn the tide of rising criminality".

More than one million complaints of anti-social behaviour were reported in England and Wales last year.

This latest promise to restore "bobbies to the beat" arrives after statistics revealed a stark decline in residents seeing police in their local area.