WITH the General Election almost certainly just a few months away, hardly a week goes by without another Government announcement heralding a crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

It is a drip-drip-drip approach by the Government. The cumulative effect of so many declarations of intent to root out the yobs will, it hopes, pave the way for a third term in power.

The latest chapter in the anti-social behaviour election catalogue came yesterday. It focused on nuisance neighbours, with 50 areas of England and Wales being given a share of £1.25m to help rehabilitate problem families.

It is hard to argue that it is not the right thing to do. Evicting families merely turns them into nuisance neighbours for someone in another part of town. Punishment has to be married with education in the hope that people will come to see the error of their ways.

But while we welcome the election-inspired campaign against anti-social behaviour, there is a danger that the problem is overblown and that a falsely negative impression is given of society.

For every bad neighbour, there are many more good neighbours who are only too happy to help those who live in close proximity.

There are some quite exceptional neighbours who go to great lengths to protect the old and vulnerable. In some cases, it is no exaggeration to say that lives depend on good neighbours.

So as well as spending money dealing with bad neighbours, wouldn't it be nice if the Government found a way of rewarding Britain's best neighbours?