ANTI-social offenders who strike in Worcester are to be targeted in a new community safety strategy.

Six areas, including anti-social behaviour, hate crime and vulnerable communities, have been identified for action.

It is the next phase of the Safer Worcester Partnership, which brings together police, councils and other groups.

The strategy has been welcomed by one Worcester City councillor, who said that he would not give up his fight for a safer city.

Coun Mike Layland told the Worcester City Council Executive Board that short-term measures were needed to reassure vulnerable members of the community.

"It doesn't matter how much talking you do, at the end of the day the victims of crime want to see some action," said Coun Layland.

"You can talk until you're blue in the face, if people don't see any response they lose faith and this is what's happening.

"If you phone the police and they don't respond they say 'what's the point of calling them?'."

He said he was visiting "hot spots" across the city to see the problems for himself.

"It's worse than you can imagine," said Coun Layland.

"No matter which area you go in there's a problem.

"It concerns me that community centres are closed when they ought to be open to give people the opportunity to use them.

"There are those out there for whom no matter what you provide, they will not use it. They have more fun, as they did at the weekend, running over the roofs of old folk's homes.

"I've seen it for myself, so I know it's true.

"There's no substitute to a bobby on the beat. It's a major concern to all the people you talk to.

"Until their fears have ceased I won't be satisfied."

The board agreed that the draft plan should be recommended to the council for approval.