New sergeant brings police cadets to help tackle anti-social behaviour in Emersons Green Retail Park area

Police cadets are have been helping tackle problems with anti-social behaviour in the Emersons Green Retail Park area say police.

Since the start of this year there have been reported incidents where staff working at the library, retail outlets and local pub have been abused by groups of young people. There have also been reports of other nuisance including stone throwing, riding scooters into the shops and using abusive language.

In February South Gloucestershire Council's Anti-Social Behaviour team and neighbourhood police met with retailers, library staff and others to agree a way forward. As well as looking into setting up a Business Watch scheme for the area, police will be carrying out high-visibility patrols to deter incidents.

New Neighbourhood Sergeant Andy Hucker said: "On Monday February 25 the Avon and Somerset Volunteer Police Cadets joined our patrols at the retail park, to show the community that not all young people are involved in anti-social behaviour. They gave up their own free time to join us, trying to engage with young people in the area to deter them from getting involved in nuisance behaviour."

As well as the high-profile patrols and visits from the mobile police station, officers are working to identify and tackle those responsible for the problems by carrying out plain clothes patrols.

PS Hucker added: "When we identify young people involved in anti-social behaviour, we work with the council's ASB team to contact their parents or carers and let them know what's been going on. So far this year 36 warning letters have been sent home. If those young people carry on causing nuisance, we and the council will take further action."