AN attempt to speed up the issuing of anti-social behaviour orders is being made in Durham City.

A conference, called and chaired by the city's MP, Roberta Blackman-Woods, was held at County Hall yesterday to discuss the problem of anti-social behaviour in the district.

Ms Blackman-Woods set up the meeting after a number of constituents highlighted problems of anti-social behaviour in the city.

Concerns were raised at what was thought to be the slow pace of dealing with complaints and the difficulty of dealing with the large number of agencies involved in the process.

Yesterday's conference, included representatives from the police, Probation Service, CPS, courts system and councils.

Delegates heard that a recently-established multi-agency team was expected to increase the speed with which evidence could be gathered and Asbos imposed by the courts.

The conference heard that ten Asbos had been imposed in the city since the orders were introduced, the majority in the last year.

Ms Blackman-Woods said: "My main reason for calling the meeting was I have had a number of cases from residents raising problems with anti-social behaviour and it seems to be difficult to deal with them.

"There seems to be a very high threshold of evidence required for an Asbo.

"There is a real problem in that people won't come forward and give evidence because they are worried about what will happen, and yet there are things which can be done.

"And if an Asbo is imposed it will make things better for everyone."

Contrary to popular opinion, the conference heard, much of the anti-social behaviour in the city was caused not by teenagers but by men in their 20s.