A BLITZ on youngsters causing a nuisance in ÒhotspotsÓ in Bordon has been launched by police.
The new initiative, which was launched last weekend, is targeting areas such as the Forest Shopping Centre, Pinewood Village, Tesco car park and Woolmer Trading Estate which are frequented by youths.
The scheme was kick-started after repeated calls from neighbouring residents complaining about youngsters causing a nuisance in the local area.
Now more police officers are pounding the streets in the ÒhotspotsÓ in a bid to drive down crime.
Pc Dave West, beat officer for Bordon, said that the scheme was already proving a success less than a week after its conception.
ÒIt is a case of showing a presence. We are using foot and mobile patrols and it is basically cracking down on juvenile nuisance, theft, criminal damage, drugs and alcohol,Ó he said.
ÒIt will be running for another two to three weeks. It was launched in response to quite a few complaints from residents , particularly those from Varna Road, Heathcote Road and Forest Road which surround the Forest Centre. The Forest Centre has always been a focal point for youngsters. It shows by the number of complaints that we get.
ÒIt has not resulted in any arrests as yet but plenty of disturbances have been solved. These things will escalate if officers are not about but you can never judge what you might have prevented.
ÒLast weekend was the first weekend that it has been run and it is going well. There has been a number of drug searches and a number of fixed penalties issued.Ó
Arrests are made as a result of the crackdown will be collated by police, and repeated offences could result in Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) being issued.
ASBOs can be served by magistrates on people over the age of 10, stopping them from visiting specific areas or engaging in certain activities.
Breaking the conditions of an ASBO is classed as a criminal offence, and any youngster who flaunts the order will be dealt with at a youth court.
Pc West added: ÒAny arrests linked with juvenile nuisance will be collated and if those individuals are already known to us, we may use Anti-Social Behaviour Orders. This will be new to us as currently we donÕt have anyone on one of these orders.
ÒWe have got people arrested and bailed on conditions not to go near the Forest Centre.Ó
Police are also warning youngsters of the dangers of congregating in supermarket car parks and industrial estates.
Sergeant Colin Dimond said: ÒTescoÕs car park is dangerous - there are vehicles moving and reversing. They also congregate down at Woolmer Industrial Estate, where it is not really safe for youngsters, and One Stop down at Pinewood Village.Ó
Meanwhile a 16-year-old boy has been charged with public order offences on Monday and Tuesday of last week.
The youngster, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been placed under certain conditions while he awaits his court appearance, preventing him from going into the area of the Forest Centre and the roads surrounding the shopping centre.
Sgt Dimond said he hoped that the youngsterÕs arrest would send a strong message to other youths.
ÒThe message to put across is if you are caught and constantly caught at a particular hotspot we have conditions where you will be excluded from that particular hotspot.
ÒIt sends a very strong message that we are not mucking around and we are not going to tolerate that sort of behaviour.
ÒThat is not to say that we are against kids having a good time and having fun but a shopping centre, a car park and an industrial estate are not places for kids to have fun.Ó
Despite the increased presence in the identified hotspots Sgt Dimond said that other areas of the town and its surrounding villages were not being neglected.