An army of workers could become the eyes and ears of the police by turning in neighbourhood nuisances who plague people's lives.

Street cleaners, binmen, milkmen, postmen, housing managers, neighbourhood wardens and others are all being urged to join the fight against low-level crime and anti-social behaviour.

The idea is being put forward by the Audit Commission in its Neighbour-hood Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour report which puts Bradford under the spotlight showing that two thirds of people in the city believe crime is on the up, despite levels actually falling. Front-line workers make all the difference in making people feel safer in their communities, Audit Commission researchers say.

Two Bradford wards, Eccleshill and Tong, were used as case studies in the research to show how a street-level approach can help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. Bradford is ranked 17 in the Government's top high-crime areas.

The report also highlights a link in Eccleshill between concerns about teenagers hanging around and pupils being excluded from school.

It says that joint schemes between police and local services such as the Safer Communities Partnership need to tailor their approach to neighbourhoods rather than the district as a whole.

Bradford is one area that is already adopting this approach with a network of Council area committees, anti-crime partnerships, neighbourhood policing and forums, according to the Safer Communities Partnership.

Councillor Margaret Eaton and Chief Superintendent Sarah Brown, the divisional commander of Bradford South police, who are co-chairmen of the Bradford District Safer Communities Partnership, said many of the suggestions made by the Commission were already happening in Bradford They said: "The partnership had some research carried out during 2004-2005 into neighbourhood crime and anti-social behaviour and as a result began to develop a more targeted approach.

"Neighbourhood policing teams are building up a district-wide picture of the concerns of local communities through its links with area committees, parish and town councils, and neighbourhood action planning groups.

"These policing teams, along with area based community safety workers and the anti-social behaviour teams are now better placed to respond to the needs of particular areas."

Chief Supt Brown backed calls for the frontline workers to get involved, saying: "If we don't know about what's happening in a community, we can't deal with it.

"Even if it is low-level crime we can map all the information to identify hotspots."

The report says that it is graffiti, dirty streets, abandoned cars and noisy neighbours that shapes people's perception of how safe their neighbourhood is not crime.

Coun Eaton and Chief Supt Brown said: "We do recognise it is often low-level crime such as vandalism and anti-social behaviour which affects people and it is those areas that particularly suffer from such behaviour that we are prioritising over the next two years.

"Bradford has had big reductions in crime over the past few years but we are not complacent. We want to work with local communities to improve the quality of life in all parts of the district."

They said crime figures have fallen over the last three years through the efforts of the Bradford District Safer Communities Partnership.

In the last year overall crime in Bradford has gone down by 17 per cent in the district with robberies going down by 42 per cent, residential burglary by 33 per cent and car crime by 31 per cent.

Tommy Hughes, senior policy officer in the Council's community safety team, said Bradford already had a solid foundation in partnership working.

"We regularly work with the police and Bradford Community Housing Trust on motorcycle nuisance action days and there are about 60 neighbourhood action plans across the district.

"Staff, such as teachers, social workers and reception workers get drugs and alcohol awareness training, leaning how to recognise the problems and what to do next.

"In fact the anti-social behaviour unit gets about 500 referrals a year and a high proportion come from other Council departments."

Sir Michael Lyons, acting chairman of the Audit Commission, said local partnerships must focus on neighbourhood areas and work better together to collect, collate and evaluate data more effectively to ensure money is being spent where it is most needed.

"In addition, they must empower front-line workers to identify and address particular issues and they must talk to and work with their residents to build confidence that action is leading to results," he said.

Ward councillors also agreed that front line workers could provide more support for police.

Councillor Tony Cairns (Lab, Tong) said: "It's a good idea the more people who are reporting what's happening is better. There should be community constables on the street.

"Methods of tackling crime should be tailored to individual neighbourhoods Holme Wood should have a different method to Tong because they are two different communities.

"Police in Bradford South are attending neighbourhood forums so they are listening. The more they attend and listen the more tailored it will be to the community.

"Some people are scared of reporting crime. But street cleaners for example see what's going on and can be detached from it so it's a good thing."

CRIME IN ECCLESHILL & BOLTON

Margaret Cunningham, 77, of Post Office Road, Eccleshill: " Anything like that would help they are on the ground and can see what's happening.

"I would definitely report something I saw to the police I think it's important to help other people.

"In the village you get youngsters throwing stones at cars and groups hanging around it makes me nervous about going out as soon as it gets dark. I think it would be a good idea to have more police community officers.

Sharon Kay, 34, owner of Top Shop Fisheries in Eccleshill: "The vandalism is really bad. We have had our windows put through three times and have been broken into. Every shop owner along here has been broken into.

"Pensioners do not feel safe and people do not want to leave their homes as soon as it gets dark. No one says anything because they are scared of reprisals.

"It's not the job of the street cleaner to monitor crime. What this community needs is more security cameras and more police presence.

Claire O'Neill, 29, of Institute Road, Eccleshill: "There is lots of trouble with youths in this area. Although police say they are dealing with things there is still a real problem.

"People do not report anything because they do not think the police are going to act.

"I have called the police three times about anti-social behaviour but will not ring again because I do not think they are listening.

"It's about apathy people think they are wasting their time calling about these things.

CRIME IN HOLME WOOD & TONG

Tony Wadsworth, 64, of New Lane, Tong: "I have been burgled three times. Kids always drive past shouting abuse when I walk my dog. You only have to see all the burnt out cars along New Lane. It does make me feel very unsafe and it is a worry I dare not leave the dogs out.

"Street cleaners should be used to report crime but I think there should be more community police presence in the area and CCTV.

"I would report a crime we have to do what we can to stop crime.

Rachel Tankard, 40, a property developer from Tong Lane, Tong: "We do not have any problems in this area and feel very safe. There is no anti-social behaviour or kids hanging around. I think these issues do shape the way we feel about our communities.

"If more tradesmen reported crime to the police it can only help. If I was affected I would report a crime.

Leslie Wetherill, 70, of Tong Lane, Tong: "I have been here ten years and have had the garage broken into twice.

"People think this is a well-off area so it can be a source of crime. Yobs come through here.

The more people that keep their eyes and ears open, the better.

"I would report something I saw because it's something that's required of everybody."