Only one in 11 victims report ‘yob behaviour’ – despite 14 million people being affected last year

A quarter of people were victims of anti-social behaviour last year – yet just nine per cent reported it, according to figures.

Analysis of the latest crime statistics reveal that 14 million people last year had their lives blighted by graffiti, drug dealing and noisy neighbours.

While 24 per cent of the public in England and Wales reported experiencing or witnessing ‘yob behaviour’, just 1.3 million incidents were reported to police, according to Labour analysis of the Office for National Statistics Crime Survey.

Arrests for anti-social behaviour have halved since 2010, according to the party. 

A quarter of people were victims of anti-social behaviour last year – yet just nine per cent reported it

Its analysis also shows that the poorest households are seven times more likely to be the victims of anti-social behaviour than the wealthiest.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: ‘Anti-social behaviour ruins lives. People are fed up about nothing being done about anti-social behaviour in their area.’

The analysis comes after a damning report revealed last week that the vast majority of burglary victims are being let down by police.

The latest official figures show that just 3.7 per cent of burglaries, 4.2 per cent of thefts and 6.6 per cent of robberies result in a charge. 

The audit by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary concluded that officers are ‘missing opportunities’ to catch suspects.

A Home Office spokesman said: ‘The Government is committed to tackling anti-social behaviour. 

‘We are giving police the resources they need to keep us safe, including recruiting 20,000 extra officers.’