POLICE officers will only respond to about three per cent of anti-social behaviour reports, it has been revealed.

Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Alston wants police officers to focus only on the most serious or repeated incidents.

Urging residents to be realistic about the response to anti-social behaviour, he said local councils would be expected to help resolve many complaints.

He said: “The changing nature of crime, our understanding of where the real harms are in our society and ongoing funding challenges continue to put huge pressure on Essex Police to use their resources as efficiently and effectively as possible.

"On a daily basis, only a small proportion of antisocial behaviour cases are assessed as presenting a high risk or involving repeat victimisation.”

Assistant Chief Constable Julia Wortley has stated there were about 1,500 such cases last year, three per cent of which were reported to the force.