COMMUNITIES are being urged to pay tribute to the courage of local people who have taken a stand against antisocial behaviour.

Home Office Minister Hazel Blears is urging York residents to nominate those who deserve recognition for speaking out against bullies, vandals and yobs.

Now in their third year, the Home Office's Taking A Stand awards recognise people who have transformed communities by tackling problems such as vandalism, nuisance neighbours, harassment, intimidation and graffiti.

Prime Minister Tony Blair last year praised York mother-of-four Rosy Garnett for standing up to a "neighbour from hell" and helping to make her street a better place, after she won £1,000 in the Taking A Stand awards.

Rosy, from Bramham Road, Chapelfields, had given evidence against her nuisance neighbour Nicola Brown, following numerous complaints about serious noise nuisance and drug use.

After enduring two years of antisocial behaviour and intimidation, Rosy's evidence resulted in Brown, then 19, a council tenant, being evicted.

Winners will be awarded £1,000 to be spent on improving their local area, while five overall winners will each receive £5,000.

Ms Blears said: "Antisocial behaviour is a menace which not only makes people's lives a misery but can ruin neighbourhoods. We've made good progress in bearing down on the unacceptable behaviour of this minority. But there is more to do, and the public are playing a key part."

Backing the awards, Jane Mowat, of the Safer York Partnership, said: "They demonstrate the benefit of standing up to people who are committing antisocial behaviour, and being prepared to act as witnesses and provide intelligence and information we need to tackle these people.

"I really admire people prepared to do that. It is a big thing. People are afraid of the backlash. But the reality is there are many mechanisms in place to protect witnesses and those prepared to take a stand. But it takes a brave person to do that."

She said the award money would help improve the community and bring people together.

"It might be used to develop a local network where people can come together to tackle problems. That can have one of the biggest impacts. It is a united front when everyone gets together to stand against the perpetrators."

The awards are being run with Crime Concern and the Co-Op, whose chief executive, Martin Beaumont, said: "Many of our stores are in the heart of local communities, and we often see at first hand how antisocial behaviour can blight a neighbourhood.

"Lots of people work very hard, and often very bravely, to tackle these problems."

For a nomination form, phone 0800 085 2980.

The deadline is January 13.

Updated: 09:40 Tuesday, December 20, 2005