The man tipped to become the country's next Prime Minister has vowed to bring "respect" back to Reading on a visit to the borough. 

Sir Keir Starmer has today outlined new measures to stamp out antisocial behaviour. 

Citing his experience as Director of Public Prosecutions, Starmer will pledge that “no-one will be above the law in a Britain that I lead, and no crime or misdemeanour will be brushed under the carpet.” 

A recent Crime Survey for England and Wales shows 30 per cent of the public feel that antisocial behaviour has got worse in their local area over recent years. Yet almost 50 per cent of victims do not bother to report it due to a lack of confidence that offenders will face consequences.

On a visit to Tilehurst in Reading today, Mr Starmer said that a Labour government would set up a bespoke new “Respect Order” to crack down on persistent adult offenders.

He will also announce new ‘Zero-Tolerance Zones’ to tackle problem behaviour in areas with high levels of antisocial behaviour.  

With power of arrest on breach, the tough new powers will allow authorities to ban problem individuals from designated Zero-Tolerance Zones, and crack down on behaviour like street drinking in hotspot areas. 

To enforce the measures, Mr Starmer will set out Labour’s plans for 13,000 extra neighbourhood police officers and PCSOs as part of a new Community Policing Guarantee. With Labour, these new officers will deliver guaranteed town centre patrols, patrolling ASB hotspots using hotspot policing (data-driven techniques to flood officers to areas where crime and antisocial behaviour is frequent) and bringing offenders to justice.

Mr Starmer warns that allowing antisocial behaviour to go unchecked is holding back growth in local communities and undermining respect across Britain.

The Leader of the Labour Party said: “Respect is something I care deeply about. I served as Chief Prosecutor for five years because I believe those who respect the law must be protected, victims must get justice and those who flout the law must carry the consequences.

“The Tories have lost control of our streets. They talk tough, but look at their record, not their rhetoric. They’ve allowed antisocial behaviour to spiral, suppressing growth in our communities and undermining respect across Britain. 

“With my changed Labour Party, Britain’s authorities will get the tough powers and extra manpower they need to stamp out the crime and disorder of Tory Britain.

“Labour will bring confidence and pride back to our communities. We’ll take our town centres back from the yobs. And we will bring respect back to Britain.”