A year after the police and council adopted a tough stance against antisocial behaviour in Waddon residents say the area is now a safer place to live.

Repeated incidents of antisocial behaviour in Waddon prompted Croydon Council and the police to write a joint letter to residents last August warning of measures that would be taken against offenders.

The action included the eviction of council tenants found to be responsible for making other residents' lives a misery and applying to the courts for antisocial behaviour and dispersal orders.

In June Fred Mayhew was given 14 days to leave his council home in Cooper Road after a string of complaints from residents about antisocial behaviour led to a judge granting the council a possession order.

A month later the police launched a new Safer Neighbourhood team in Waddon, made up of two police officers and three Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) who regularly patrol the area.

Marion Mitchell, chairman of Waddon Residents' and Amenities Association, said the increased police patrols had made the area a safer place to live.

Mrs Mitchell, who has lived in Waddon for 22 years, said: "It has got better because we have got more police on patrol than we used to have. Because of that you don't get the children hanging around who used to be a problem."

She added: "Since the council introduced its antisocial behaviour scheme it's got much better, it does seem to be working because the people that commit the behaviour know they can't get away with it now. It's made Waddon a lot safer."

Chief Superintendent Vicki Marr, Croydon's borough commander, said: "Following public consultation three safer neighbourhood teams were set up on the borough between May and July.

"Since the launch of the teams I have received positive feedback from the community and letters of appreciation to my officers on their hard efforts so far.

"It is hoped that with continued government funding that all our wards will have a safer neighbourhood team in place."

The council said it would make full use of its powers to prevent a minority of tenants from harassing their neirghbours.