Loitering, damage to trees and plants and street drinking are among the top areas of concern for households affected by anti-social behaviour, according to new research by the Labour Party.
The survey of 2,000 people across nine constituencies in urban areas found that 60 per cent of respondents expressed "medium to high" levels of concern about anti-social behaviour.
The top six areas of concern were loitering, damage to trees and plants, groups loitering, street drinking, damage to property and "joyriding" or car racing.
The constituencies where the survey was carried out included Cork North Central; Cork South West; Cork East; Dublin South Central; Limerick East; Louth; Meath East; Tipperary North; Tipperary South.
Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said anti-social behaviour was emerging as the most serious problem facing communities and blamed the Minister for Justice and the Government for failing to address the issue.
"The quality of life for many hard-working families is being damaged by crime and vandalism. Anyone who is a bit 'different' gets singled out, like single parents or the elderly. It's surely ironic that at a time when Government coffers are awash with tax revenues, they are doing so little to tackle anti-social behaviour," Mr Rabbitte said.
He conceded that while damage to trees or plants was not the most serious form of anti-social behaviour, the survey results had highlighted major concerns over joyriding and intimidation which were a "breeding ground for criminality".
The party said the results highlighted the importance of several of Labour's previously-stated policy plans for tackling anti-social behaviour, such as the need to put an additional 2,000 gardaí on the beat; the creation of a new Garda rank of Community Garda; more juvenile liaison officers; and better youth or sport facilities.
There was no mention in party literature yesterday of anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos), which were contained in the party's discussion document on anti-social behaviour published last year. The inclusion of Asbos in Taking Back the Neighbourhood was understood to have caused tension within the party at the time.
Yesterday, the party's spokesman on justice, Brendan Howlin, said there was a place for Asbos but only as a measure of last resort and after the full implementation of the Children's Act.
He said the Minister for Justice was concentrating on "knee-jerk" solutions to deal with anti-social behaviour, rather than "structured and well thought-out" responses.
