A team established to clamp down on nuisance neighbours is set to extend its work to the whole of Oxfordshire.

On Monday, Oxford City Council's executive board will discuss recommendations that its Crime and Nuisance Action Team (CANAcT) could offer its services to councils and housing associations across the county.

CANAcT was set up two years ago to investigate claims of rowdy and threatening behaviour by neighbours.

It uses a range of techniques -- including parental control agreements, acceptable behaviour contracts and court orders -- to stop anti-social behaviour.

At present, the team's work is limited to Oxford, but the proposals would allow it to tackle problems across the county.

Oxford City Council would not make a profit and would only be able to charge for operating costs. The proposals are designed to give council and housing association tenants a consistent service throughout Oxfordshire.

Executive member for crime and community safety, Susan Brown, said: "By putting in place a specialist team to directly target anti-social behaviour, the council has been able to make a real difference to peoples' quality of life. "We have seen drug houses closed, disputes solved, anti-social behaviour orders issued, and recently a nuisance neighbour was jailed.

"We now have the opportunity to extend this service to housing associations in the city, and other local councils in Oxfordshire.

"Given the difference CANAcT has made and the specialist knowledge we've built up, it is right that we work with other agencies and help even more people."

In April, after CANAct gathered evidence, an Oxford council tenant was given a three-month suspended prison sentence at Oxford County Court for terrorising one of his neighbours.

Gerald Ryan, 43, of Cuddesdon Way, Blackbird Leys, breached the conditions of a court injunction ordering him to keep the peace.

If Ryan, also known as Jedi, re-offends within the next year, he will serve the prison term.