A GRANDAD has warned that anti-social youths riding mopeds “at a rate of knots” on his estate will take lives.

Derek Watts claims he has called police more than 15 times about yobs haring down a footpath next to his house every evening.

His eight-year-old granddaughter nearly got knocked over by one of the bikers – who he says often ride without helmets and blacked-out number plates.

The gangs use the footpath alongside Derek’s home in Viking Close, Lordshill to get to Five Acre Fields at speeds of up to 70mph.

But Derek, 54, who has lived in his home for 23 years, said police have not resolved the anti-social problem which has plagued the area for four years.

The grandad of eight is one of the many people who feel police do not take anti-social behaviour seriously.

He said: “It is a death waiting to happen. All it needs is somebody to walk out on to the footpath and bang they are dead. It is my biggest worry.

“Nothing has been done. I can’t understand why police can’t see how this affects all the residents and the elderly people who live opposite. I just feel like just another statistic.”

Derek spoke out after the Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Denis O’Connor, released a report blaming a “retreat from the streets” by frontline police for letting anti-social behaviour spiral out of control.

Yobs commit anti-social behaviour offences every two seconds and nearly half of all calls to police are about rowdiness or neighbours from hell, the report reveals.

Sir Denis revealed there were 3.5 million calls about anti-social behaviour last year but he stressed only one in four cases is reported to police meaning there were at least 14 million incidents.

Last night Hampshire police defended themselves against the accusations, saying that responding to calls about acts of nuisance and vandalism are a priority.

Assistant Chief Constable Laura Nicholson said a three-month campaign, which started in June, led to fewer acts of anti-social behaviour compared to last year.

Speaking about Mr Watt’s complaint, a police spokesman added: “Tackling motorcycles in the area is one of our two main community priorities at the moment for our safer neighbourhood teams in Coxford.

“We are working with our partners such as Southampton City Council and the Forestery Commission to tackle the anti-social use of motorbikes on the footpaths around, Lordshill, Lordswood and Coxford.

“This includes Operation Convergence which aims to catch those involved and officers have been equipped with cameras in order to capture evidence so the offenders can be prosecuted. This will continue to be a priority for us until such time as the community feels things have improved.”