Hertfordshire residents want stamping out anti-social behaviour and tackling speeding drivers to become top priorities for the county's police force, a survey revealed.

Although responding to 999 emergency calls and neighbourhood policing were still considered by the public to be the most important aspect of policing, 87 per cent supported a stronger focus on tackling anti-social behaviour.

A further 71 per cent said speeding was also a major problem they wanted officers to clamp down on.

Stuart Nagler, chairman of the Hertfordshire Police Authority, said: “Rowdy or inconsiderate behaviour is the largest single reason why the public ring the police and, in addition, a considerable number of calls are about all types of inconsiderate motoring, whether it be parking on zig-zag lines, speeding near schools or in residential areas or the illegal use of mobile phones while driving.

“Though less serious than burglary, violent assault and other crimes, anti-social behaviour and inconsiderate motoring impact significantly on the quality of life of far more people in Hertfordshire and should, therefore, be recognised by the police as a priority.”

An online survey of 1,800 people was completed by the authority to address residents' views on policing priorities in Hertfordshire and how much people would be prepared to pay for them.

The authority faces cutting costs after seeing £3.7 million of its government grant withheld in 2009/10, with an additional £4.1 million expected to be withheld in the forthcoming financial year.

About 60 per cent of the authority's £204.9 million budget in 2009/10 came from central government.

From the survey, 78 per cent said they would pay more than the cost of inflation (4p per week for a Band D property) to protect police services in the county, and the authority must now weigh up whether to increase council tax to ensure there is no funding gap or face reducing services.

Mr Nagler added: “We have all become used to receiving a good standard of policing in Hertfordshire over the past few years and it is clear that the public want this to continue. In the past, we have used our reserves to help bridge the gap in government funding but this is not a viable option for the future and the authority now faces major financial difficulties.”

The Hertfordshire Police Authority will set its 2010/11 budget and its policing plan priorities on Tuesday, February 23.