TACKLING antisocial behaviour is a priority for Wiltshire Police, according to the PCC, as Salisbury sees a flair up of incidents.

Police dealt with two back-to-back incidents of anti-social behaviour at Queen Elizabeth Gardens on July 18 and 19.

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This has sparked a priority shift for Wiltshire Police, PCC Philip Wilkinson told the Journal. He said: "I am very aware of the incidents that have been happening in Salisbury and inspector Tina Osborn, who is head of the community policing team, is on the case.

"I have asked her to give priority to solving it."

While Mr Wilkinson says "you can't say there is a general rise" in ASB across the board, hot spots suddenly form as more crimes "flair up". This could be because of "all sorts of social and underlying economic reasons".

"It could be because a new family has moved into an area and they're particularly difficult, or a crisis of housing," added Mr Wilkinson.

In an effort to tackle flair ups of ASB, Mr Wilkinson is working with leader of Wiltshire Council, Richard Clewer, to map out hot spots to take preventative action.

A multi-agency package is being put together for Wiltshire Police to facilitate police action, something which "seemed to work" when it was implemented in Downton.

Mr Wilkinson's new approach to aims to address the methods police have been using previously. He said: "Traditionally, the police are trying to figure out who to talk to.

"The job of my office is to facilitate police action and deliver a multi-agency approach."

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