Police “must and can do better” in cracking down on anti-social behaviour, a watchdog said.

Inspector of Constabulary Lee Freeman called for a “renewed focus” on staffing neighbourhood police teams, who are often the first to deal with such incidents.

Most police forces in England and Wales need to improve the way they identify, record and respond to anti-social behaviour, as well as how they protect victims, an inspection report published on Thursday said.

In the year to September 2023, about one million anti-social behaviour incidents were reported to the police.

In its election manifesto, Labour promised to “return law and order to our streets”, setting out hopes of gripping anti-social behaviour and boosting the number of neighbourhood police on the streets.

Describing anti-social behaviour as a “blight” on communities, Mr Freeman said it was “vital” forces understand its “complexity and prevalence” and focus on “effective early intervention”.

While there were some good examples of police working hard to tackle the problem, he said forces were “inconsistent” in their response, with some failing to properly train officers in how to deal with and record incidents.

Making eight recommendations for improvement, he added: “The police must and can do better.

“Our communities must feel confident their local force will tackle it effectively.”

Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool last month, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper outlined the Government’s “mission” for safer streets, including moves to introduce new powers to respond to anti-social behaviour.

The King’s Speech earlier this year set out plans for “respect orders” to target anti-social behaviour which would ban offenders from town centres in a bid to stamp out public drinking and drug use.

It is unclear whether these would work alongside existing notices and orders or mark a return to anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos), previously used in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but still used in Scotland.

Other ideas including tasking someone in each council area to lead on efforts to crack down on anti-social behaviour.

Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said: “Too often when people report anti-social behaviour there is a real sense that no-one comes and nothing is done, with victims and communities feeling abandoned.

“Today’s report makes clear that for this new Government to turn the tide on anti-social behaviour we need police forces across England and Wales to get the basics right and I expect the police to act upon these recommendations so that no community has to face the scourge of anti-social behaviour alone.

“It is why as part of our safer streets mission we will deliver thousands of extra neighbourhood police and community support officers and bring in tougher measures to tackle persistent anti-social behaviour.”

Essex Police deputy chief constable Andy Prophet, who leads the National Police Chief Councils’ work on tackling anti-social behaviour, welcomed the findings and said the body would “take time to reflect” on the recommendations.