A MALVERN resident who feared his family was about to be attacked has slammed police for failing to respond to his 999 calls.

Danny Young, of Charles Way, dialled the emergency number at about 11.30pm after a group of youths started throwing stones at his window then became abusive when confronted, even threatening physical violence.

“Despite the urgency of the call, the fact that the operator could hear the youths shouting and being aggressive in the background and the operator being informed that one of the boys appeared to be about to attack my partner, police failed to turn up,” said Mr Young.

“Then 45 minutes after the first 999 call, we phoned again and were informed that an officer would arrive quickly but 40 minutes later and after a call to the local call centre we had to agree to receiving a police visit the following day because they could not guarantee when an officer would be available.”

Mr Young said his partner only escaped being attacked by one of the youths because another member of the group stepped in to stop him. He believes the incident could easily have ended in someone being seriously injured.

Although he was contacted by police the following day, Mr Young believes the situation is unacceptable and has filed an official complaint.

The 40-year-old has lived in Charles Way for three-and-a-half years and claims to have seen a worrying increase in anti-social behaviour in the last 12 months.

“Most of the people around here have given up reporting things and many feel like hostages in their own homes,” he said. “Police are not responding to matters and the youths involved in these things know that.”

Police spokesman Porcha Treanor said: “South Worcestershire Police have received a complaint regarding an incident in Charles Way and it will be thoroughly investigated.”