ANGRY people living on a Worcester estate could take the law into their own hands because police are failing to respond to petty crime in the area, a city councillor claims.

Independent Mike Layland says irate residents have told him they will take action against yobs who commit minor offences like smashing windows, kicking in fences and scrawling graffiti in Ronkswood, because police take so long to attend incidents.

Yesterday the Evening News revealed that West Mercia had one of the worst ratios of police to members of the public, at 171 officers per 100,000 of the population. The national average is 234.

But the South Worcestershire division, which includes Worcester, is believed to be at the bottom of West Mercia's table with one officer for every 726 people - the force average is 602.

"People are telling me they don't see the point in ringing the police," said Coun Layland. "Residents say it gives the impression officers can't be bothered, so they're saying that, if the police won't do anything, they will.

"It's the wrong attitude, but I can't blame them. They're saying enough is enough."

The councillor, who praised Ronkswood beat manager Liz Norcott, stressed the complaint was not about poor policing but the low number of officers available.

"The police can only do what they can with the limited resources," he added.

"Of course, officers have to put life-threatening situations and emergencies at the top of their priorities.

"The beat manager for the area is working above and beyond the call of duty. She really tries to help, but what chance does she have?

"She works eight hours a day, sometimes more. But, for the rest of the day, there's no one to work specifically in the area and help with more minor incidents."

No one was available to comment on behalf of Worcester police as the Evening News went to press today.

But, yesterday, Chief Supt Simon Adams said that, despite below-average numbers, officers were working very hard to maintain the city as "one of the safest places in the country, and deliver a quality service".

He said that, on average, the division dealt with 40,000 calls a month, with priority having to go to serious incidents over other requests for police assistance.

"This is as frustrating for the officers as it is to the community," he added.

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