BLACKBURN with Darwen, Hyndburn and Burnley are among Lancashire's anti-social behaviour hotspots, the county's Police and Crime Commissioner has told councillors.

The three boroughs - along with Blackpool and Preston - remain the worst in the county for low-level nuisance and minor offences.

Takeaways have also been found to be one of the major flash-points for problems, and has sometimes escalated to more serious offences.

Andrew Snowden revealed the information as he gave his update report to the Police and Crime Panel of council representatives that oversees his work today.

The meeting, at Blackburn Town Hall, came as Mr Snowden launched a county wide anti-social behaviour survey to get a full picture of of anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the county, identify hotspots and look at how the police an can work better to tackle the problem.

Mr Snowden has made tackling ASB a key priority and work is underway to establish a dedicated anti-social behaviour unit.

In his update report, he revealed he had discussed the issue in detail last month with Chief Constable Chris Rowley in advance of the school summer holidays.

The Commissioner plans to use the survey results to inform a series of ASB summits in the autumn.

His report to the panel said: "ASB monthly totals are at their lowest since the start of the pandemic.

"The districts with the highest rates of ASB per 1,000 population remain unchanged – Blackpool, Burnley, Preston, Hyndburn and Blackburn with Darwen.

"Recent analysis has identified bus stations and fast-food outlets as emerging risk locations, and that in some districts ASB has escalated into public order incidents.

"The use of civil orders continues to increase with 328 granted in the 12 months to end of March 2022."

Mr Snowden revealed between the 12 months to March 2020, and the 12 months to March 2022, there has been a 12.1 per cent increase in personal ASB incidents from 17,654 to 19,788, a 19.6 per cent drop in environmental ASB incidents from 1,455 to 1,170 and a 21.1 per cent rise in nuisance ASB incidents.

He added: "Anti-social behaviour can take many forms including intimidating and aggressive groups, drug dealing in residential areas, damage, graffiti, and the anti-social use of vehicles.

"They are a blight on our communities and make people feel unsafe in their homes and on the streets.

"Anti-social behaviour is one of the top concerns raised with Lancashire Police and an issue that residents write to me about every day.

"The aim of the survey is to get a better picture of the different types of ASB and to identify any hotspots in our county.

"I am already working with the Constabulary to establish a specialist anti-social behaviour unit."