Corby tops 'yob map' of England

The National Audit Office used official figures to assess residents' perceptions of anti-social behaviour.

Analysis of the data suggested 48.8% of adults in Corby believed bad behaviour was a problem.

The study also suggests 17% of the population across England thought there were high levels of anti-social behaviour in general.

As part of its report The Home Office: Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour, the National Audit Office (NAO) said the percentage of people who believed anti-social behaviour was a problem had risen from 16% two years ago.

The worst 10 towns and cities

• Corby 48.8
• Mansfield 44.4
• Hackney 42.7
• Nottingham 42.7
• Luton 42.7
• Slough 42.0
• Ashfield (Notts) 41.2
• Knowsley (Merseyside) 39.2
• Middlesbrough 39.3
• Easington (Durham) 38.9

The survey of all English local authorities suggested almost one in two people believed so-called "yobbish" behaviour was a big or fairly big problem in Corby.

Corby Borough Council said it was responding positively to the report.

Council leader Pat Fawcett said: "It would be easy to say 'yes it's unfair' and pretend we're the victim, but we've take on board any criticism and want to move forward.

"It gives us a point where we can see what we did then - three years ago - and compare it with what's happening in Corby now.

"So we're really looking at this report to see the differences. It's a benchmark for the borough."

Inspector Gary Williams, the area commander, said some people were less tolerant of youngsters than they used to be - children playing football in the street were now perceived by some people as anti-social.

Bristol was named as the place with the fewest perceived anti-social problems with only 5.7% of residents describing it as a big or fairly big issue.

In second-best place was Staffordshire Moorlands, the area around Leek.

Mansfield in Nottinghamshire was second worst with 44.4%, then Hackney in east London and Nottingham, both with 42.7%.

The best 10

• Bristol 5.7
• Staffordshire Moorlands 6.0
• Basingstoke and Deane 7.4
• Wolverhampton 7.5
• Leeds 8.9
• Winchester 9.6
• Sevenoaks 9.9
• City of London 10.2
• Richmond upon Thames 10.6
• Blaby 10.8

Luton - the Bedfordshire town voted the worst in Britain in an online poll two years ago - came fourth with 42%.

The report also suggested about 55% of anti-social behaviour orders had been breached.

The Asbos were either breached by offenders committing more offences or by breaking the terms of the order.

The NAO said 35% of Asbo holders breached the order on five or more occasions, but the average number was four per person.

The government said the findings did not mean Asbos were failing.

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