A CAMPAIGN aimed at tackling youth crime in Basingstoke has been hailed a success after a drop in anti-social behaviour.

The Summer Streetz project ran activities such as sports, dance, music and a drop in youth centre for youngsters between the ages of 11 and 17.

Run by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council with V-Involved, Hampshire Constabulary, Hampshire County Council and Kingfisher HVHS Housing, the scheme ran for five weeks during the school summer holidays.

An analysis of police statistics revealed anti-social behaviour dropped in Brighton Hill (35 per cent), South Ham (27 per cent) and Hatch Warren (eight per cent) where the scheme ran.

On the back of this success, the partnership is now in the process of planning similar |initiatives in additional areas as well as at other times of the year. Councillor Clive Sanders, Cabinet member for community safety, development and transport, said: “Summer Streetz is a great example of how we can make a real difference by working together to target issues in our communities.

“One focus of our new development workers will be to support communities in becoming active in setting up their own schemes to tackle problems in their neighbourhoods and make them better places to live.”