AN ANTI-social behaviour telephone hotline started earlier this year has been hailed a success for giving people somewhere to turn for help. The initiative in Tendring, known as “It's Your Call” was officially launched in September by Home Office Minister, Hazel Blears.

AN ANTI-social behaviour telephone hotline started earlier this year has been hailed a success for giving people somewhere to turn for help.

The initiative in Tendring, known as “It's Your Call” was officially launched in September by Home Office Minister, Hazel Blears.

With minor crime, anti-social behaviour and other nuisances blighting lives across the country, it was hoped the scheme would give people a way to get help and advice about how to tackle the problem.

A spokesman for Tendring District Council said: “We have been very pleased with the results so far, we have now got a dedicated member of staff receiving the calls.

“The calls we have had have been followed up and we have had some good results - we have dealt with fly-tipping, graffiti, and there was a case of criminal damage where two young people were given anti-social behaviour orders.”

Paul Unsworth, chief executive of Tendring Primary Care Trust, one of the partners involved in the hotline, said it was just one of a number of schemes introduced to reduce crime and the fear of crime in the area.

“Tendring is actually one of the safest places to live in the country and we want to ensure it not only stays that way but that people, particularly our older population, feel secure in this knowledge.

“The anti-social behaviour hotline has proved very popular since its inception. We've had more than 50 calls, many of them concerning neighbour issues and noise disturbance but also others areas. The majority of callers have been more elderly, but certainly not exclusively.

“Encouragingly, a number of the issues raised have been swiftly and successfully resolved and the conclusions reported back to the people who made the call. This way, people know their calls are being acted upon.”

The PCT joined the Tendring Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership in April last year in a bid to tackle the impact of crime which costs the NHS anywhere between £1.1 and £2.3 billion a year.

n The hotline number is 0845 605 2222. It is staffed between 9am and 5pm with an out-of-hours voicemail service available at other times.