SPIRALLING reports of antisocial behaviour due to yobs causing misery in communities across Barnsley is set to be reversed - after the police were handed greater powers to tackle those responsible.

Antisocial behaviour - which encompasses everything from illegal off-road biking to causing alarm of distress to people - remains the most-committed crime in Barnsley.

Figures obtained by the Chronicle show a total of 30,297 incidents were recorded in the town last year.

However, a fresh drive to reduce incidents has been promised by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who this week announced a raft of measures that will give the police greater powers to tackle offenders.

These include the ability to seize nuisance off-road bikes and other vehicles without needing to warn the offender in advance.

A key part of the government’s Plan For Change, the police will also be given the power to issue so-called ‘respect orders’ to ban offenders from town and local centres, as well as being allowed to immediately arrest those who fail to comply.

Better investment packages for Barnsley’s six neighbourhood policing teams have also been promised in order to respond to incidents - and residents’ calls - quicker.

The move has been praised by Barnsley North MP Dan Jarvis, who told the Chronicle that antisocial behaviour is one of his constituents’ main concerns.

He said: “I am frequently contacted by constituents whose lives are made a misery by the antisocial behaviour of a selfish minority.

“Whether it’s off-road bikes tearing up football pitches or vandals damaging the town centre, antisocial behaviour is a blight on our borough.

“It damages the sense of pride that many residents have in our town, and undermining local businesses.

“It cannot continue - I therefore welcome the Labour government’s crackdown on antisocial behaviour, which will give the police the powers they need to crack down on offenders.”