A HOTLINE was launched in Newport yesterday to give residents more power to tackle anti-social behaviour.

With anti-social conduct one of the city's key problems, the It's Your Call hotline aims to bring fresh hope to neighbourhoods plagued by louts.

Newport is one of 47 areas in the UK selected for the Home Office initiative, with Cardiff the only other Welsh city involved.

It's Your Call aims to help crime-fighters stamp out the hooliganism which splinters communities and shatters lives.

Residents who may be reluctant to ring 999 can call a hotline number to report anti-social behaviour, and this will be recorded and action will be taken.

There were 847 anti-social behaviour offences recorded in Newport in 2003-04, and police want to reduce this figure to 796 by the end of the financial year.

Those causing disorder in gangs, vandals, drug dealers, prostitutes, and those responsible for graffiti are being targeted.

Yesterday the line was launched by Louise Casey, who spearheads the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit at the Home Office.

She visited Tredegar House to hear how crime-busting initiatives have improved neighbourhoods, and how police and other agencies plan to tackle crime in the city until 2008.

Ms Casey said: "I think it's important that people can pick up a phone to report anti-social behaviour. I do not think people have to suffer in silence."

Chief Superintendent Kevin Price, divisional commander for Newport, hopes residents will support the idea.

"We encourage members of the public to come forward and raise their concerns," he said.

"It will allow us to identify issues in the community and direct our resources to improve quality of life. People are not afraid to pick up the phone if they know what support is available."

Newport city council will be working with police on the initiative.

Chris Freegard, managing director of the council and chairman of the Community Safety Partnership, said: "The campaign should make the city a more comfortable place."

Traders in the Handpost area of Stow Hill, which has been plagued by anti-social behaviour such as vandalism and verbal abuse, backed the hotline.

The It's Your Call hotline is 01633 222944.