Antisocial behaviour is on the increase in Oxfordshire, with Oxford city centre not surprisingly the worst hit.

Incidents include noise, rowdy behaviour, arguments between neighbours, street drinking and begging.

It’s worrying to hear that antisocial behaviour is on the increase, but reassuring that Thames Valley Police take the matter seriously and want residents to report any trouble.

It's also reassuring to hear from Oxford police commander Supt Andy Murray that staff log antisocial behaviour incidents so officers can respond according to the level of seriousness.

Waking up in the morning to find your car aerial has been snapped off by a passing drunk is a nuisance but the problem can be remedied quite swiftly.

However, as our report shows, repeated antisocial behaviour can soon make someone’s life a misery.

It is not right that pensioner Bob Marchant should be victimised by a gang of youths who appear to have been taunting him and his terminally-ill wife for three years.

At his wit’s end, he tried to tackle the problem himself and ended up in custody as a result.

When a resident is being singled out in this way, the police need to act swiftly to prevent the situation from escalating.

They should warn off youths who are harassing people and take more serious action if the problem persists.

But there will be occasions when officers need to make an arrest, regardless of the paperwork it will generate.