Anti-social behaviour figures in the Spring Hill and Central wards have fallen by more than a third over the past 12 months, according to police figures.

PCSO Torsif Patel, who covers both areas, said there were 127 anti-social behaviour (ASB) incidents in March 2013 – compared with 71 last month.

Burglary, vehicle theft and vehicle crime levels have also shown small reductions. However, reported criminal damage is up from four incidents to 10 along with theft up from 10 incidents to 14.

Speaking at a recent area council meeting, PSCO Patel told residents: “ASB has gone down year on year. There are sometimes the odd incidents and it means one month is higher than the previous year but overall it has gone down.

“I have been a PCSO for five years and in that time we have changed the way we have worked a lot. We don’t just punish people for doing wrong, we now bring them in and see what other services we can offer to them and giving them the right guidance. If we have a problem with a particular family causing a lot of ASB, we will refer them and we find the level goes down.

“If we do that for 10 families in the Spring Hill area, you can imagine year on year our ASB figures goes down.”

However, residents at the meeting reported persistent incidents of ASB at the bottom of Steiner Street. PCSO Patel said he was aware of the problems but no complaints have been officially logged since July last year.

Speaking at the meeting on behalf of a street resident, neighbourhood manager Mohammed Abid said youngsters were gathering on the street late at night and playing football against cars and walls.

He said: “The complaints had stopped by July 2013. I don’t think that means the issues have been resolved, it means the residents have given up because it’s gone on for three years.”