A HI-TECH map is being drawn up to reveal trouble hotspots throughout the Malvern Hills district in a bid to crack down on anti-social behaviour.

Malvern Hills District Council is developing a new computer database to enable it to pinpoint problem areas and help police to decide where to concentrate efforts.

The system, known as ReAct, will help follow new trends in antisocial behaviour enabling police to plan their actions at an earlier stage.

It is expected to cost about £2,000 to set up the database and follows concerns from residents who believe the area is changing for the worse and anti-social behaviour is on the increase.

Mark McKay, community safety support officer with the district council stressed that evidence of anti-social behaviour was merely anecdotal and the scheme aimed to provide hard evidence if it was there to record.

"It is really about examining the extent of the problem, the nature of the problem and then relaying that information and giving it to the people who make the decisions as to how to solve these problems," he said.

Complaints logged on the database will come from sources such as the district council staff, council members, parish councils, the public, housing associations and BT reports about vandalised phone boxes.

It will include reports of vandalism, harassment, litter, increased noise, intimidation, the illegal use of drugs, domestic and neighbour disputes, abused directed at council staff, drunkenness and burglary.

"This is an exciting system which will help nip behavioural problems in the bud before they become a serious social problem and to make everyone's lives safer and more enjoyable," said Coun Tom Wells, district council leader.

"It will give us a better reflection on the nature of anti-social behaviour taking place in the area and, once we know that, we can set about doing something positive to eradicate it."