ANTI-social behaviour is the big issue facing police in the Malvern Hills area.

That was the message from Chief Superintendent Simon Adams, the police officer in charge of South Worcestershire.

He was speaking at a public meeting last Thursday organised by Malvern Town Council.

It was set up because council members wanted to find out more about how the town is policed and address residents' concerns.

About 30 members of the public turned up for the meeting.

Chief Supt Adams explained how West Mercia polices the area, saying that it was a misconception that there was ever an era when uniformed police stood on each corner.

Several members of the public said officers should leave their cars and be seen about and about more on foot.

Chief Supt Adams said: "The big issue in South Worcestershire, including Malvern Hills, is anti-social behaviour, not crime, because we live in a low-crime area."

He said anti-social behaviour orders were an important method of dealing with these problems.

After the meeting, when told about the teenager who could not be identified, as reported in last week's Gazette, he said publicity was a vital part of the process.

Among the problems mentioned was parking on the pavement outside the Grove School, where Coun Pat Merrick said elderly people were forced to walk on the pavement. Chief Supt Adams said police were currently working with the school to tackle the problem.

Coun Ian Fearnside called on the police to tackle weekend late-night rowdiness in the Barnards Green/ Avenue Road/Court Road areas.

Response time to police calls and cars parking in local taxi ranks were other problems raised.