'Anti-social behaviour is still people's biggest concern'

More than 3,400 local householders were sent questionnaires by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency earlier this year, but only 832 (24 per cent) replied.

Results from the survey, published by Newtownabbey DPP this week, show that anti-social behaviour remains people's top concern, followed by burglaries, road traffic offences and drug dealing/abuse.

Some 14 per cent of respondents said the level of crime in the area where they live has increased in the last year, and only two per cent said that it has fallen. And many people believe that youths causing annoyance, vandalism and underage drinking are growing problems.

A total of 54 per cent said they were dissatisfied with the level of visible police patrols in their area, while only 39 per cent of respondents who had contact with the police felt satisfied with how they were treated - a considerable drop from the figure recorded during the last survey in 2008.

The findings also show that people want the police to concentrate more on prompt response to emergencies, putting more officers on the beat and preventing crime.

Read the full story in this week's Times...