THERE could be a myriad of conclusions drawn from the fall in complaints about antisocial behaviour to police.

There has been a marked drop in the past five years in most areas across the city.

Cynics may suggest it illustrates a growing disconnect between the public and police because of a feeling among the community that officers won’t respond to some calls.

But that would be generally unfair when it comes to neighbourhood policing. Thames Valley Police has put considerable effort into its programme over the past seven-or-so years.

In the early part of the previous decade when new antisocial behaviour legislation was brought in, there was a rush of people reporting any disturbance in their community.

In the main they were right to alert police to problem neighbours blighting their area, but there were many calls that were, frankly, just about people living their lives.

Feedback we’ve received is that Oxford’s neighbourhood policing teams have worked with their communities and it could be that this closer relationship is nipping problems in the bud before they become formal complaints and that there is more understanding of what is not antisocial behaviour.

Thames Valley Police is seemingly on the right track with neighbourhood policing and we hope that continues.