DARTFORD and Gravesham have been chosen as one of 16 areas across the country to receive help and advice to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Launched by the Home Office, the ASB action squad will work closely with councils and police in the area to increase the use of anti-social behaviour powers.

The two boroughs have been chosen because they are considered to have a low use of tools and powers and a high public perception of anti-social behaviour.

While council leaders welcomed the announcement, they said they wanted to see tough action rather than publicity stunts.

In a joint statement, Gravesham Council leader Mike Snelling and Dartford Council leader Jeremy Kite said: “We have been telling the government for some time that anti-social behaviour is a major problem here and urging them to take a more robust line.

“We have been made promises like this before only to find that the end result is nowhere near as tough as the press-release suggests.

“Ministers have a habit of saying they are tough on crime but then spend fortunes offering useless ‘touchy-feely’ initiatives that criminals just laugh at.

“At first glance, the announcement seems long on ‘publicity’ and short on enforcement but we will keep an open mind.”