Colchester should be made an even safer and healthier place in which to live and work after the introduction of a new scheme.

Borough councillors agreed at last night's (Monday's) Cabinet meeting to introduce a mediation service and adopt an anti-social behaviour strategy for the borough.

Labour group leader Tim Young said: "What we are seeing more and more in Colchester and other areas is anti-social behaviour."

He said currently the only recourse was through injunctions or court action of some type, which could take a while, with the behaviour continuing in the meantime.

The service, which would cost no more than £10,000 in the first year, would only be appropriate in some situations.

Councillors backed a multi-agency approach, and during a first-year trial period the scheme will be funded by the council borough homes project.

From then onwards, a borough-wide mediation service would be funded equally by the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Account.

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