The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee found police measures such as anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) and dispersal orders were not effectively being assessed by police and so not being used effectively to cut crime.
In a statement rel
eased yesterday, the committee criticised the uncoordinated way the Home Office, police and local authorities are dealing with drunken yobs who intimidate and assault people following a night out in town.
But Chief Supt Paul Phillips, Northamptonshire West area commander, defended methods used by police to monitor crime.
He said: "There are no no-go areas in this county. Thousands of people come into the town centres on Friday and Saturday nights. At these times we have a high-visibility police presence around the bars, clubs and restaurants and work hard with our partners to ensure that crime and disorder is kept to a minimum.
"Our Nightsafe campaign has been refreshed and will go live during the summer holiday period to strengthen the partnership we have forged with the licensed trade, Northampton Borough Council and door staff.
"Anti-social behaviour orders and dispersal orders are just a couple of measures that we use appropriately to deal with those who behave in a violent, aggressive or anti-social manner."
Northampton Borough Council's portfolio holder for community safety, Liz Tavener, added: "We do have some problems with bad behaviour in the town centre at night, but it can't be that much of an issue if so many people still want to go out in Northampton at the weekend.
"The fact is this is not just a problem for the police, and we are working very hard with all our partners to do something about it. We have got a co-ordinated approach to try to find the best ways of dealing with alcohol and crime."
Chairman of Northampton's Pubwatch scheme, Steve Foster, said: "I really think the police are getting on top of any problems we might have had in the town centre. Things are a lot better than four or five years ago, but it is a case of keeping on top of those few people who might be out to ruin it for everyone."
elizabeth.lee@northantsnews.co.uk
