AN INCREASING number of calls regarding anti-social behaviour in Ponteland has resulted in a police crack-down.

The incidents involve groups of youths gathering in the Ponteland and Darras Hall areas and engaging in anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and abusive behaviour.

As a result, officers are carrying out high visibility patrols and use dispersal powers to move the groups on, as well as engaging with the youths and arranging home visits and letters to parents.

Tynedale Neighbourhood Insp. Pam Bridges said this led to a decrease in the number of incidents being reported last weekend. She added: “This type of behaviour will not be tolerated. The abusive behaviour is extremely intimidating to local people, especially people who may be elderly or vulnerable. It’s important to point out that the majority of these kids aren’t doing anything wrong.

“They are simply spending time with their friends. It is a minority who are causing problems for local people, and it’s these individuals that we are looking to take action against.

“Most of them don’t live in the Ponteland area, they are either dropped off by their parents or they make their own way into the area. We really need parents to think about what their children are doing once they are dropped off.”