The West Midlands has the biggest anti-social behaviour problem in the country, the Home Office has revealed.

But the majority of residents have no confidence in the criminal justice system.

The findings are included in the annual British Crime Survey, published by the Government today.

In the West Midlands Police area, 26 per cent of residents said they had experienced a "high level" of anti-social behaviour.

This was more than any other part of the country, including Liverpool or Manchester. The only comparable area was London.

But only 43 per cent of West Midlands residents said they were "fairly" confident or better the criminal justice system was effective.

Half said West Midlands Police was doing an "excellent or good" job - suggesting concern about other parts of the system such as courts.

The results were revealed as official crime statistics were published.

There were 69,338 violent crimes in the West Midlands Police area in 2005-6, up two per cent on the previous year.

That is 27 violent crimes per 1,000 people, or a crime for every 37.

The West Midlands is safer than Merseyside, Cleveland, London or Humberside, where violent crime is higher. But it still has one of the highest rates in the country.

In Greater Manchester there were 20 recorded violent offences per 1,000 people.

In Staffordshire, there were 26,299 violent crimes, up two per cent, or 25 per 1,000.

West Mercia reported 17,166 violent crimes, down 14 per cent, or 15 per 1,000.

And Warwickshire Police reported 7,374 violent crimes, up one per cent, or 14 per 1,000.

Total crime was down two per cent in the West Midlands - better than the national average of one per cent.

Home Office regional director John Curtis said: "Crime in the West Midlands as a whole has remained stable. We've have built upon last year's excellent crime reduction successes and these new figures represent 10,000 fewer victims of crime. That's a result."

Across England and Wales, street crime and muggings rose eight per cent - including a ten per cent rise in gunpoint robberies.

Home Secretary John Reid said the increase was fuelled by a desire for mobile phones and MP3 players.

"I share the concerns of many violent offences recorded by police have increased, particularly robbery," he said.