"We'll take law into our own hands"

But, fielding the complaints through a two-hour session called by ward councillors Helen and Keith Bridger, Inspector Max Mosley said the answer was partnership working between the police, the public and agencies such as Rother Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership.

A new Government anti-social behaviour initiative offered 75m of aid over three years with 1,000 awards for successful neighbourhood schemes.

Complainants said they no longer saw Sidley's beat officer. Inspector Mosley said PC Keith Baldwin's local knowledge had been used by CID during the 20-night Operation Discern following a series of burglaries in Sidley.

A man arrested on Sunday was being questioned about the raids.

A Crowhurst Lane resident said a 92-year-old neighbour had been raided three times in a fortnight.

A spokeswoman for the newly-formed Preston Road Neighbourhood Watch said one pensioner was now too scared to go to bed at night.

"There's going to be a fatality before long because the burglar is standing in people's rooms."

Inspector Mosley said: "The majority of kids in this town are absolutely cracking.

"There are probably just 30 or 40 who need support and diversionary action to stop them offending."

A man who listed a catalogue of stone and mud-throwing attacks on his home and damage to his car since January without police response said he was still waiting for police to respond to his calls.

The hall burst into applause when he shouted at the Inspector: "Soon, we are going to take the law into our own hands!

"I am fed up! Your people don't come up and see me."