Anti-social behaviour hits 96% of pensioners

Most pensioners have experienced anti-social behaviour in the last year, a new study has found.

The nationwide survey of 1,500 men and women aged over 65 found that almost all the pensioners surveyed (96 per cent) had suffered some form of anti-social behaviour.

Publicist and author Tony Edwards, 68, carried out the research to coincide with the launch of The Elders, a novel he has written about pensioners in revolt.

Mr Edwards said he too had suffered anti-social behaviour.

He said: "I was going to use a post-box and a kid was sitting on it and wouldn't get off. I asked him to move his legs and he was unpleasant about it so I pulled him off.

"He said he would be back with a mob of kids but I didn't stick around to find out if he did."

Nearly half of the pensioners surveyed said they have also experienced vandalism and believe police effectiveness to be "inadequate".

Although the majority said they would never condone a vigilante response to crime, a quarter gave their approval to the idea of unofficial retribution.

A third thought they'd suffered age discrimination.