VANDALISM, littering, threatening behaviour, nuisance neighbours and begging has soared in Oxford over the winter.

All but four of the city’s 22 neighbourhoods have seen a rise in antisocial behaviour between November and January, with the number of reports up 10.5 per cent to 1,839 incidents.

The sharpest rises were in Cowley, Greater Leys, Northway and Headington, which suffered percentage rises of 38, 65, 150 and 35 respectively.

Insp Ned Qureshi, area inspector for northeast Oxford, said: “It’s always disappointing if they are going up because of the effect it has on communities.

“We want communities to feel safe and feel good.”

Mr Qureshi said incidents of antisocial behaviour tended to fluctuate according to the migration of troublemakers.

He said: “Antisocial behaviour can occur any time and anywhere, it’s not seasonal.

“You can have one group of people who generate a huge number of reports – as soon as somebody rings up, it’s recorded. A neighbourhood dispute might generate 15 offences in a fortnight.”

In November last year, a teenage hooligan who terrorised residents and shopkeepers in Barton was given an antisocial behaviour order (Asbo) banning him from the estate for two years.

Kyle Chadbone, 16, had been arrested for a catalogue of crimes including burglary, assault and possession of a firearm.

Mr Qureshi said: “In Barton and Risinghurst we have had a great deal of success reducing antisocial behaviour and general nuisance, but people living on estates come and go and now we have a couple of new people in Barton who are causing us problems.”

Mr Qureshi said officers were analysing the spike in incidents to locate trouble spots and key troublemakers.

He said: “We are trying to identify offenders and work with CANAcT (Oxford City Council’s Crime And Nuisance Action Team), schools and social services to tackle the people who are committing these offences.

“We want to pick on the worst offenders, the ringleaders, which usually has a domino effect.

“We are talking to parents, issuing acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs) and, if we have enough evidence, Asbos.”

Last month police hand-delivered 30 letters to parents of troublemakers living in Blackbird Leys as part of a new initiative to curb antisocial behaviour.

Mr Qureshi said: “The aim is always to reduce antisocial behaviour as much as possible and I’m confident over the next six to nine months we will see a drop. I see it as a challenge.”

Incidents in Northway rose by 24 to 40.

Betty Fletcher, chairman of Northway Residents’ Association, said: “I’m not surprised. We hardly ever see street wardens or PCSOs in the neighbourhood.

“We also need better facilities, not just for young people, but for all ages.”

Find out what crime is like in your area. See http://crimestats.thamesvalley.co.uk