A NEW £2 million task force is being set up to combat anti-social behaviour and tackle environmental crime.

The planned 'Liveability Unit' will be a Liverpool-wide enforcement body which will help neighbourhood teams identify and deal with 'lower level' crime.

It will mean swifter action on things like dumping rubbish, graffiti and anti-social behaviour and will make sure more perpetrators are punished.

Lib Dem Councillor Dave Antrobus, Liverpool's executive member for community safety, said: "Anti-social behaviour and environmental crime is a blight on all local communities.

"Often neighbourhood staff know who is dumping or scrawling graffiti but all they can do is forward the names to another agency. This often leads to too few prosecutions. This new unit will take immediate action by getting the fly-tipping or graffiti removed, identifying the perpetrators and prosecuting them by co-ordinating existing council services in a more joined-up way."

The council, working with its partners including Liverpool Council for Voluntary Services, is asking the government to fund the Liveability Unit through its Safer and Stronger Communities Fund, and will focus on deprived areas.

Liverpool's existing Citywatch street crime wardens will be expanded and will operate alongside other council uniformed enforcement staff. They will all share the same uniform.

The unit will also work closely with Merseyside Police, housing associations, local voluntary organisations and the Liverpool Partnership Group.

Walton Lib Dem Councillor Marilyn Fielding, Liverpool's executive member for neighbourhoods, said: "This new unit builds on the good work being done by our neighbourhood teams throughout the city. Residents constantly tell us they want stronger action on environmental crime and anti-social behaviour - so the unit offers a service they have been crying out for which can improve their quality of life."

Liverpool's Executive Board is being asked to approve the scheme at its meeting on Friday 17 February and it is hoped it will be up-and-running by April this year.