POLICE say they are tackling anti-social behaviour in Ledbury despite figures showing it consistently tops the list of reported crime.

Inspector James Ashton spoke out to defend Ledbury's crime-fighting record, particularly on anti-social behaviour, after national Victims' Commissioner, Baroness Newlove, highlighted it as a UK crisis and said "too little was being done."

Anti-social behaviour repeatedly accounts for most of the reported crime in the Ledbury area, month in month out; although in February - the month with the latest West Mercia Police statistics - the category was just beaten into second place by reports of violence and sexual offences.

In February, 75 reports of crime were reported to Ledbury police and of those 21 were for anti-social behaviour and 24 for violence and sexual offences.

In January, 70 crimes were reported and, of those, 25 were for anti-social behaviour and 11 for violence and sexual offences.

Last December, there were 31 reports to police of anti-social behaviour, and 27 for violence and sexual offences.

Baroness Newlove, in her last report as Victims’ Commissioner, says police and councils have “a culture of viewing anti-social behaviour as not important” and she said “depressingly, little has changed” since her husband, Garry, was kicked to death by car vandals, 12 years ago.

Baroness Newlove said it was "infuriating" that anti-social behaviour was sometimes referred to as "low-level crime", and she said its victims were often existing in a "living nightmare", because too little was being done.

However, Inspector James Ashton, of the Herefordshire Rural Safer Neighbourhoods Team, sought to reassure residents that Ledbury is a safe place.

He said: "Baroness Newlove’s report no doubt reflects broader issues that she has identified across England and Wales; however, I am confident that Ledbury is not typical of the communities that she refers to.

"Indeed, we are privileged across West Mercia in that we live in an area of low crime and low anti-social behaviour. Within our police force Herefordshire remains the lowest crime area and Ledbury features only insomuch as it is notable for the lower than average levels of crime and disorder. Like all towns, we do experience anti-social behaviour at times which have a real impact on communities and individuals, albeit it at very low levels. My team and I are take all reports seriously and work hard to reduce the negative effects that anti-social behaviour has on local people."

Inspector Ashton said the recorded statistics "do not relate to crimes, but incidents, so this will include things like noise complaints, rowdy behaviour and so on, where no crime can be established."

He added: "The level of violent and sexual crimes is also low and, looking at data over the last three years, demonstrates no statistically significant change."

His robust response has been supported by Annette Crowe, chairman of the Ledbury Traders' Association whom until recently, organised PACT meetings with the police in the town.

Posting on the Voice of Ledbury Facebook site she said: "Ledbury feels incredibly safe to me. I have never felt vulnerable walking even late at night. There are horrible cases like the flasher frightening young girls but that is commonplace in other places."

She added: "PACT used to set priorities for the police to prioritise each quarter, which they did very effectively. Only a couple of times did we have the public complaining about anti-social behaviour. The police do a brilliant job with few resources."

Mrs Crowe's positive views were echoed by other Ledbury residents.

But Christine Bradford said: "You would be surprised as to what goes on in this town. People literally don't have a clue at all.

"Just because you don't hear or see anything yourselves, as individuals, doesn't mean nothing is going on."

Posting on the Ledbury Reporter Facebook site, Rod Everett said: "It's not the Ledbury I left 13 years ago to start a new life in Cyprus. Yes, there was the odd punch up, but nothing of this level."

The figures relate to an area covered by the police's "Ledbury Crime Map," which runs from the south of Bromyard to the border of Bromesberrow Heath, and includes Ledbury itself.