A DROP has been recorded in the number of anti-social behaviour incidents in Burnley year-on-year.

And borough council leaders say this supports their commitment to continuing to part-funding eight police community support officers.

Last December, the authority pledged to provide £88,000 as part of a series of 'growth' areas for the coming year's budget.

Now, Coun Mark Townsend, cabinet member for resources, has confirmed that the Labour administration has vowed to include the PCSOs support into their medium-term financial plan.

He told a full council meeting that the number of victims of anti-social behaviour had fallen by 71 – last year there were around 1,420 incidents.

Coun Townsend said: “While we have an extremely difficult financial situation and are dealing with a government out to undermine us at every turn, achieving positive things and outcomes is possible, as has been demonstrated over the past 12 months.”

Earlier this month, Coun Tony Harrison, cabinet member for community services, said that there had been an overall decrease in crime for Burnley, year-on-year, of 4.9 per cent, or 267 fewer victims. This had been as a result of noticeable decreases in 'serious acquisitive crime', including burglaries, thefts from cars and robberies, and assault.

“As well as the decline in anti-social behaviour,” he told councillors.

The borough council has also proved itself capable of cracking down on four-legged 'offenders' and their owners.

Councillors heard that the number of penalty notices issued by Burnley for dog fouling was more than the combined totals for Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Rossendale and Ribble Valley.