Anti-social behaviour targeted

Graffiti is among the list of social undesirables in central Reading

Drunkenness, graffiti, drugs and begging are issues Reading residents want eradicated from their neighbourhood, a police survey shows.

About 300 people listed the concerns when they were asked about the things that affect their quality of life.

Insp John Relph said it was part of a community consultation exercise.

"A neighbourhood action group will meet to problem-solve these issues and look at long term initiatives to eradicate them," he said.

There are no surprises here, as these top three priorities reinforce the strength of opinions conveyed to me and my fellow councillors Tony Page, Reading Borough Council

Street briefings were carried out in central Reading by the neighbourhood team, police community support officers and volunteers, along with street surveys.

Reading police said this approach to community safety is called "neighbourhood policing".

"The initiative aims to encourage better communication between police, councils, housing associations and other agencies responsible for community safety, and the communities they work with," they said.

Tony Page of Reading Borough Council said: "There are no surprises here, as these top three priorities identified in the police survey reinforce the strength of opinions conveyed to me and my fellow councillors."