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When Tony Blair launched his government's 'Respect Agenda' in 2005, he said: "It is time to reclaim the streets for the decent majority."

He, and every politician who has ever canvassed for a vote, knew it chimed with the experiences and frustrations of millions of us.

But have things changed as a result?

They are tools which the police and local politicians are increasingly prepared to use.
For example, the number of ASBOs obtained by the police and local authorities has rocketed in the last few years.

Perception gap

The BBC obtained figures for ASBOs under the Freedom of Information Act. The number has risen more than tenfold since 2002.

In the second half of 2007, there were 626 issued across the North East and Cumbria. Evidence, say some, that youth disorder really is being taken seriously.

For every appalling case of someone being kicked senseless - or worse - by a gang of teenagers, there are thousands of cases of people's lives being blighted by unreported intimidation on their estates, their shopping areas, the streets they use every day.

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The police and the Home Office say youth crime is falling.

Perhaps it is a measure of the cynicism of our society that so many of us simply cannot believe that. Or perhaps we - and our media - are more willing to speak up about it - some would say exaggerate it.

It's what the police call the "perception gap". 

Soundbites

Eighteen months ago the BBC reported from a Tyneside estate where a young father had been stabbed to death. Residents told of a culture of fear where drink-fuelled, feral youths prowled the streets, intimidating old and young alike - a depressingly familiar tale.

This month we returned to speak to one of the locals for a second time - the kind of woman not easily frightened by anyone, yet she was afraid of walking her dog at night.

So after all the initiatives, the soundbites and the extra ASBOs, is life any better for her and her estate?

ASBOs are on the increase

"Nothing's changed," she insisted. "There are still packs of them. They've no respect for the police, or property - they're shouting abuse, they're in your gardens... there's no respect. No respect at all."

Yet this woman's local council says youth disorder has fallen by a third in five years.

It also points to an independent survey which suggests that the number of people who feel antisocial behaviour is a "major problem" has fallen from 49% to 28% since the Agenda was launched.

She may have a "perception gap", but she will continue to believe the evidence of her own eyes.

'War of attrition'

David Cameron says Gordon Brown has effectively ditched his predecessor's Respect Agenda. Councils and police forces say they have practical measures which together are making a difference.

Mike Craik, Chief Constable of Northumbria Police told us that while these high-profile initiatives make banner headlines, there's no quick fix. "This is a war of attrition," he says.

We expect our police, courts and lawmakers to contain, punish and deter antisocial behaviour. We also know that parental influence is crucial to whether a child will have a "Respect Agenda" when they step out onto our streets.

It's a point echoed by our interviewee on the Tyneside estate - although she puts it rather more forcefully.