POLICE chiefs have hailed their success in the crackdown on yobs after new figures showed antisocial behaviour had plummeted across North Yorkshire.

They have revealed the number of incidents across the region fell by more than 500 year-on-year between April and June, following on the heels of a 2,497 drop in offences during 2009/10.

A rundown of the situation in the area covered by North Yorkshire Police, which went before its police authority this week, said the tally of antisocial behaviour decreased to 135 incidents a day in this period, six less than the year before, with drinking and rowdiness in the street, criminal damage, auto-crime and interference with vehicles all falling. However, the statistics also showed problems with noisy and nuisance neighbours in North Yorkshire rose by 20 per cent in the three-month period compared to the previous year, with 127 more incidents recorded in June alone.

The overall picture of crime in the region, outlined in findings which went before North Yorkshire Police Authority’s performance and scrutiny board, showed 11,278 record crimes between April and June this year, 164 less than the same period in 2009, with a 508-offence reduction in anti-social behaviour.

Adam Briggs, the force’s Deputy Chief Constable, pictured, said: “Communities tell us that reducing antisocial behaviour is a real concern and one of the key priorities they want us to tackle.

“These reductions have been achieved through working with partners and local people on initiatives that deliver long term sustainable solutions. Being able to raise people’s standard of living after resolving antisocial behaviour issues is a key motivating factor for our staff.”

The report also showed burglary, robbery and sexual offences rose during the three-month spell, and that the force anticipated seasonal trends identified in previous years would mean anti-social behaviour increasing between July and September before falling back again during the autumn and winter months.

But it said only 8.3 per cent of residents in the region believe antisocial behaviour is at a high level in their community, one of the lowest crime perception rates in England and Wales.