LONDON: Britain is perceived as one of the most loutish countries in Europe, according to a new survey published on Tuesday, just a month before the start of the World Cup in Germany.

The poll, taken in six European countries including the UK, found that 76 per cent of respondents thought Britain had a “big or moderate problem” with antisocial behaviour — a higher percentage than for any of the other countries involved.

Despite riots in the country’s suburbs in November, France was rated just behind the UK (75 per cent), followed by Germany (61 per cent), Italy (52 per cent) and Spain (51 per cent). The Netherlands (44 per cent) were at the bottom of the list.

The survey, which was conducted by University College London’s Jill Dando institute of crime for the security firm ADT, found that 95 per cent agreed that antisocial behaviour was a big or moderate problem.

The survey also revealed a sharp contrast in national attitudes to tackling unruly behaviour. It found that in Germany, six out of 10 people would challenge a group of 14-year-olds vandalising a bus shelter, but in Britain six out of ten would not.

“These perceptions, both inside and outside of Britain, are worrying,” said Adrian Casey, the managing director of ADT Europe & South Africa. “We have to seriously ask what sort of reception our fans travelling to the football World Cup and Brits on holiday abroad will receive when the rest of Europe perceives us to have such a problem with troublemakers.

“Government and policy makers may challenge them with statistics on crime and disorder, but as a nation we don’t believe this situation is under control.” A breakdown of discipline in British homes and schools was seen as a factor by 79 per cent of respondents, and nearly half believed stricter sentencing would help tacklethe problem. It also found that two thirds of Britons thought drink was a key factor.

“This research is a wake-up call. We know antisocial behaviour is a major issue in Great Britain and the rest of Europe clearly agrees,” said Professor Gloria Laycock of the Jill Dando Institute.—Dawn/The Guardian News Service