Bradford is winning the fight against anti-social behaviour as a new drive to stamp out the problem is launched.

Members of Bradford's Safer Communities anti-social behaviour (ASB) team joined 300 professionals from across Yorkshire for a conference aimed at new ways of stamping out intimidation, harassment and general bad behaviour.

The Home Office TOGETHER Academies try to encourage ASB co-ordinators, youth offending team workers, neighbourhood wardens, police community support officers, environmental health workers and housing officials to share their expertise in tackling the issue.

Safer Communities' Anti Social Behaviour Manager Chris Slaven said they were happy with what they were doing in Bradford.

He said: "We seem to be having a serious impact on anti-social behaviour. The streets of Bradford, Keighley and Ilkley are much safer places. I put that down to partnership working."

Mr Slaven said they had learned much from taking part in workshops during the Academy and talking to others about their ideas.

He added: "Tackling anti-social behaviour is a priority in Bradford. We are doing some really positive work in developing and delivering preventative measures, as well as acting quickly to tackle issues when required.

"Most of what we learned at the TOGETHER Academy, we are doing already.

"Local authorities have different problems and different structures to deal with this.

"It shows us how advanced we are in Bradford and how far ahead of the game we are, with the support of the Council and elected members."

Since April 2003 the Bradford ASB team has had 469 cases of anti-social behaviour referred to it and has handed out 120 Acceptable Behaviour Contracts, 144 warning letters, and 68 Anti-Social Behaviour Orders - the toughest action that can be taken.

But Mr Slaven said one lesson that had been learned from the Academy was the use of verbal warnings.

He said: "We weren't doing them. But pitched at the right level they are useful. The support and response from the public and other groups and agencies is outstanding."

Mr Slaven said the number of cases referred by members of the public was rising rapidly.

"This is very encouraging," he said. "People are recognising the impact of ASB on their quality of life.

"They are willing to identify and report behaviour which is unacceptable and are confident and reassured that that we will act to protect them and their communities by addressing the problem hands on."

But he said some young people should be given the benefit of the doubt. "If we can identify the misbehaviour with the parents and they can take action, and the young people take responsibility and change, then we have had a success without having to resort to more formal mechanisms," he said.