by ISABEL COE

The Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir John Stevens, sent a clear message to residents in Barnet that antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated at a partnership conference on Friday.

Home Secretary Jack Straw recently told local authorities they must start using Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) to combat graffiti and vandalism. In response Mr Stevens said: 'They ASBOs are a very effective way of dealing with people who are committing antisocial crimes.

'But at the moment it's very difficult to get them pushed through the courts and we are trying to find out why that is.'

He also he spoke of the effectiveness of CCTV ,, due to be installed in Burnt Oak towards the end of this year ,, in dealing with graffiti.

Friday's launch of the Working in Partnership to Create a Safer Barnet conference drew together the police, the council and members of the voluntary sector in a bid to show residents in Barnet that partnership is the key to cutting crime.

Addressing the packed hall, Lord Toby Harris ,, chairman of the newly formed Metropolitan Police Authority ,, said this was the only way forward.

'The public have got to have confidence in our police service and that comes from mutual respect and partnership.'

The afternoon was taken up with a series of workshops covering a range of issues from youth crime to the environment.