ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour has risen by almost a third across the conurbation in recent weeks compared to last year, according to figures from Dorset Police.

The number of anti-social behaviour incidents in Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch recorded between Tuesday July 28 and Tuesday August 11 was 849, compared to 638 during the same period last year.

Broken down further, Bournemouth had a 38 per cent increase in ASB incidents from 390 to 539, whilst the number of reported cases rose from 190 to 248 in Poole, an increase of 31 per cent.

In Christchurch, although the number of anti-social nuisance complaints decreased from 51 to 45, the total number of incidents increased from 58 to 62, a rise of eight per cent.

This follows a number of incidents recently involving young people causing a nuisance to residents.

A group of young boys were seen throwing stones at swans from Iford Bridge but, when confronted by a member of the public, the boys began verbally abusing those who told them to stop.

A spokesman from Dorset Police said: “We received a report at around 4.30pm on Monday August 10 of a group of four or five young people cycling around causing a nuisance to people in the area of Iford Bridge in Christchurch.

“We would encourage people to report any incidents or concerns to Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101.”

Similarly, a large group of teenagers were seen at Lake Pier in Poole on Tuesday August 11 and later spotted climbing on board a boat moored close to the pier and rocking it in an attempt to capsize it.

Dorset Police say they are using a range of initiatives to help tackle anti-social behaviour, such as working closely with key partners through the Community Safety Partnership to identify the causes of ASB and to develop bespoke plans to reduce it.

A Dorset Police spokesperson said: “We are fully aware of the distress and upset that anti-social behaviour (ASB) has on our communities and we are committed to working with our local authority partners to tackle the issue.

“There is not one simple solution to all anti-social behaviour problems. Each area across the county has its own individual plan that works closely with the respective local authority to reduce ASB.

“One example is in Poole where the neighbourhood policing team has been working with the youth justice team to compile a strategy designed to improve the behaviour of young people in the area."

As part of the plan, BCP Council have introduced community safety accredited scheme officers to assist with tackling anti-social behaviour at the bus station in Poole and in the town centre.

The Dorset Police spokesman added: “Officers from the traffic unit, No Excuse and the local neighbourhood policing team in Oakdale are also faced with incidents of anti-social behaviour following ‘car meets’.

“We are proactively monitoring the area to ensure the safety of the public and to keep disruption to a minimum.

“We want to ensure that residents and visitors to Dorset feel safe and are able to enjoy their time here.”