A MULTI-AGENCY task force, involving police, the public and community bodies could prove the way forward in stamping out anti-social behaviour in Droitwich.

The initiative was put forward at a meeting organised by Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff in an attempt to combat growing concern in the town over vandalism, graffiti and abusive behaviour.

Leading community figures, representatives from West Mercia police, Neighbourhood Watch members and other key figures met to thrash out their concerns, look at work already being done and take part in discussions on action for the future.

Shopkeepers expressed their concern at the amount of graffiti daubed on their premises and other annoying incidents, which included newspapers being set alight.

A spokesman for Worcestershire County Council said £57,000 had been spent on tackling graffiti in the town centre alone during the last 14 months, with another £18,000 still needed to continue the work.

Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators also reported damaged fences, broken glass strewn on to roads and eggs and stones thrown at windows.

"A person I know managed to stop a young person from damaging a fence and warned him he could be taken to the police," said one Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator.

"The young kid replied, 'that's nothing, I've been there before'. There is simply nothing in place to discourage people."

Those at last night's meeting said they felt problems were being caused because of a lack of parental control, the undermining of the authority of teachers, the leniency of the courts and the lack of police foot patrols.

Chief Supt Simon Adams confirmed there had been no Anti-Social Behaviour Orders issued in Wychavon, but said this partly reflected the success of officers in taking preventative measures to deal with offenders.

Police also said that an extra police officer, dedicated purely to patrolling Droitwich on foot, would soon be in place alongside the 16 other officers for the area.

Plans to have a multi-agency task force in place within a month are due to be raised by Sgt Paul Crumpton at Monday's meeting of Wychavon District Council.

"The aim is to kick start a campaign which will bring various groups together who are all capable of tackling anti-social behaviour, and hopefully provide a solution to the problem," he said.