CRIME figures released this week show parts of Malvern do not live up to the town's quiet reputation.

The Pickersleigh, Link and Brook Farm areas were particular crime hotspots in an audit carried out from 2001 to 2003.

But the South Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership, which conducted the audit for the Malvern Hills area, says the figures do not give the real picture of local crime.

Insp Neville Sheldrick, of Malvern Hills Police, said police crime figures for 2004-2005 were the best in 30 years.

An anti-social behaviour officer starts work at the district council on May 18. He will work with families to tackle youngster's misbehaviour before it turns criminal. Parenting classes are already available to the parents of youngsters who have anti-social behaviour problems and will soon be on offer to all parents.

Plans are underway for a disco at Priory Lodge Hall every Friday night with mobile skate ramps in the council car park.

Jenny Lawrence, community safety officer, said external grants and funding had helped make all these plans possible.

Tom Eustace, secretary of Pickersleigh Residents Association, said he thought crime levels had stayed more or less the same or were slightly less than 2001-2003.

"I think there's been less in the newspapers about it and I haven't had many reports from residents themselves," he said.

He felt Pickersleigh warden Norman Barrow had helped reduce crime in the ward.

Mr Barrow has left this post to become community warden for Elgar Housing.

Lorraine Watts, of Elgar Avenue, a campaigner for better youth facilities in the area, said problems were mainly caused by bored teenagers and under-age drinking.

She said a circular seating area had been installed for teenagers but they still needed more to do.

"I think it has got a bit better because a lot of teenagers who were round here a few years ago have grown up and moved out of the area," she said.

Malvern Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator Clive Marlow said co-ordinators in the Pickersleigh, Link and Brook Farm areas had said things had improved "quite significantly", with the intervention of police and community safety partnership since the audit was conducted.

Mr Marlow said more Neighbourhood Watch groups were needed in the Pickersleigh, Link and Poolbrook areas.

Anyone interested in running one can contact him on 01684 562808.

n DRUGS - The survey says there are an estimated 360 problematic drugs users in the Malvern Hills district.

In Malvern, 63 people are in treatment, 45 male and 18 female, 94 per cent being treated for heroin addiction.

Of those in treatment, 27 per cent live in the Link and Brook Farm, 21 per cent in Pickersleigh and 11 per cent in Upton.

In 2002-03 there were only seven class A drug offences and 88 drug-related crimes. Of those crimes said by the survey to be drug-related, 21 per cent were in Pickersleigh.