A senior police officer has promised to tackle rising antisocial behaviour problems in Cowley.

Figures just released show antisocial behaviour rose by 14 per cent from April to June this year, compared with the same period the previous year — although crime as a whole had dropped.

Insp Graham Sutherland said: "We know what is causing the issues in terms of neighbourly disputes, and there is a long-term plan to work with families causing the bump in the figures.

"We recognise there is a problem that is causing an increase and we have specialist resources trying to deal with it."

Officers were called to 256 incidents of antisocial behaviour in the three-month period, compared with 225 for the same time last year.

He said there was a core area of Cowley causing the problems, but refused to disclose the location.

When the last crime figures were released in June, Mr Sutherland warned antisocial behaviour could become more of a problem in the summer.

Recorded crime dropped by 15 per cent over all — the third quarter running Cowley crime had dipped year on year.

But domestic violence rose by more than a third.

Mr Sutherland said he could not explain the rise — but said his team would tackle any repeat offenders.

Cowley resident Vicki Faulkner, 26, of Craufurd Road, said she had never had problems with anti- social behaviour.

She said: "I find it really quiet where I live. I am quite aware of the PCSOs — you see them on patrol quite a lot and I think they are doing quite a good job."

But Jenny Daniels, 26, from the Horspath Road estate, was not surprised antisocial behaviour was on the rise.

She said: "Where I live there are lots of young lads, always round on bikes, shouting and swearing and I have even seen them selling drugs."