THE lives of thousands of people across Dorset and Hampshire are blighted by increasing acts of antisocial behaviour every day.

From vandalism, graffiti and fly-tipping to drug misuse, noise and racial abuse, few people are unaffected. But one extreme example this week has shown how the antisocial actions of others can lead to tragedy.

Fiona Pilkington killed herself and her disabled daughter after being repeatedly tormented by thugs at their home in Leicestershire. Police and the local authority have been accused of contributing to their deaths by ignoring their pleas for help.

Now the latest Dorset Police figures reveal antisocial behaviour has gone up in all but one area in the last year. Only Bournemouth East showed a reduction from June to August compared with the same period last year.

Complaints to Dorset Police in June, July and August totalled 4,974 compared to 4,325 in the same period in 2008. The biggest rises were in Poole North, Poole South and the Dorchester and Sherborne areas, with increases of 25 per cent, 22 per cent and 19 per cent respectively.

People in Bournemouth feel the problem has been getting progressively worse for many years.

“People are generally making a nuisance of themselves and it’s getting worse” said Roger Parnell, 66, of Bournemouth town centre. “There should be more police on the beat, and more parental guidance – the problems start at home.”

Brenda Perry, 66, said: “People need to be more strict with their children. The kids need something to do to keep them off the streets.”

Joe Purver, 52, from Bransgore, said alcohol plays a huge part in antisocial behaviour, adding: “I just avoid Bournemouth town centre in the evenings because it’s so bad.”

The Daily Echo recently featured the case of Asher Nardone who says she has been plagued by incidents at the home she shares with her disabled son on Poole’s Rossmore estate.

“I’ve been threatened with assault, had things thrown at me, been punched, had eggs thrown at the house, a brick through my window as well as years of continuous abuse,” she said.

Residents in Ringwood have also voiced concerns following two weeks of bad behaviour including drinking and fighting in the street.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “We take antisocial behaviour very seriously.” He said incidents are collated by Safer Neighbourhood Teams with the most serious allocated to a dedicated officer. He added: “Whenever evidence exists Dorset Police will take positive action.”

Sue Bickler, service director for partnerships and improvement in Bournemouth said: “We work closely with police and other agencies. We’re looking closely at our processes to ensure they are water tight so that we would have picked up the vulnerability of a family in [Mrs Pilkington’s] situation and ensured a co-ordinated, speedy and effective response.”

Ian Cooke, antisocial behaviour co-ordinator at Poole council, said police reporting of antisocial behaviour covered a range of issues including littering and neighbour disputes.

"It also covers rowdy and inconsiderate behaviour which we’re aware has increased in some areas, mainly due to groups gathering creating ‘hotspots of antisocial behaviour,” he said.

“We’re working hard with police and others to support local communities in tackling antisocial behaviour,” adding there had been a significant improvement in the town centre.