It's your call to shop a yob

From the archive, first published Tuesday 18th Jan 2005.

Residents in Oxford will be encouraged to shop a yob in confidence from next month, when an anonymous telephone crime line goes live.

Home Office minister Hazel Blears announced the initiative It's Your Call yesterday as part of the Government's bid to crack down on antisocial behaviour, noise nuisance and graffiti.

Oxford has been recognised by the Government as one of 25 Action Areas leading the fight against antisocial behaviour, and from February 28 residents will be able to use the line to report nuisance neighbours and advise police and councils of vandalism and abandoned cars blighting their area.

Callers will even receive a follow-up card, reporting the action taken following their complaint, if they choose to give their details.

Posters are to be displayed around the city and leaflets delivered through doors advertising the national action line number 0845 605 2222.

All callers will be asked to provide their postcode, so they can be directed to their local service, the call will be charged at a local rate and Oxfordshire callers will be put through to the county's CANAct crime and nuisance action team, to report their complaint.

Susan Brown, the city council's executive member for crime, said: "We are launching this line to make it easier for people to report antisocial behaviour and get a quick response.

"We want people to be assured that the information they give will be treated as confidential.

"The hotline will provide a useful telephone number but staff working for CANAct are already in place, to provide the necessary service, and have been for some time."

John Goddard, leader of the city council's Liberal Democrats, said the group established CANAct in 2001.

"If the hotline provides a quicker response for members of the public then I think this is quite sensible," he said. "What staff will have to watch out for is neighbours using the hotline to try to settle feuds and old scores."

Ms Blears said the police and local authorities needed the help of communities to tackle graffiti, vandalism, abandoned cars and other yobbish activities.

She said: "We have made significant progress in tackling antisocial behaviour and reclaiming our communities for the law-abiding majority.

"We have brought in tough new laws and an ambitious national action plan, providing the tools and the expertise for police and local agencies to tackle the yobbish minority who can blight communities and make people's lives hell.

"Engaging local people is vital to create strong communities and tackle the thugs who can destroy people's quality of life."

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