THE number of anti-social behaviour cases more than tripled in three years across West Dunbartonshire - as the budget to tackle the problem was cut in half.

A total of 978 cases were recorded in the area in 2020/21 compared to 312 back in 2017/18, according to figures from Labour councillor David McBride.

But in a motion to next week's West Dunbartonshire Council meeting, he says the budget to deal with reports of anti-social behaviour dropped from £719,000 to £398,000.

Cllr McBride said the budget for tackling the problem increased for 2021/22 but anti-social behaviour cases had already reached 511 in the first half of this year.

He suggested the total for the 2021-22 financial year could exceed 1,000 by the end of the financial year in March.

The number of staff dealing with anti-social behaviour has been reduced, according to Cllr McBride, with their service ending at 2am and a maximum of three officers on duty.

Mediation referrals have also dropped from 93 in 2017 to 13 last year, when the service was suspended due to Covid.

There have been no referrals since April 2021.

In his motion Cllr McBride will ask the council to "call on the chief executive to bring forward a report to a future council meeting setting out the details of the anti-social behaviour service including staffing levels, case work and operational arrangements across the council area".

The motion will be debated at a 'hybrid' full council meeting on September 29, with councillors given the option of attending via Zoom or in person at the council chambers in Dumbarton.

It will be the first council or committee meeting in West Dunbartonshire not to be held entirely online since the pandemic began last March.