POLICE have introduced special measures to stamp out anti-social behaviour in a Winchester suburb.

Residents in Weeke say youths have been congregating at night outside shops in Stoney Lane and St Barnabas Church in Fromond Road, Michael Carr writes.

In the last three weeks police have been called to deal with youths drinking near the church where a window was smashed and graffiti was sprayed, and other noise complaints.

A conservatory on Fromond Road was smashed during an fight and a 33-year-old man was assaulted in Fromond Road by a group of five youths.

Now police have powers to disperse groups of youths in Stoney Lane, Fromond Road and Trussell Crescent.

The powers which are called section 35 orders can be used for up to 48 hours at a time. If the youths are seen in the area again, they could be prosecuted and imprisoned for up to three months.

Residents have welcomed the move and say more should be done to tackle youth crime.

One resident Gary Parfitt, 69, said the problem is the worst he has seen.

Mr Parfitt said: “Anti social behaviour is a real problem, it has always been bad area for it, and I have lived here for 63 years and it has got really bad, but I do not think it is the kids' fault, it is the parents because they are letting them out late at night.

“I do not walk along this way at night but people that are living in Fromond Road and Trussell Crescent are getting problems all the time.

“It is a lack of things for them to do, and a lack of supervision from parents. Unless something is done it is going to get done, it is going to get worse.”

A worker at Class 1 Dry Cleaners in Stoney Lane, who asked not to be named, also expressed concerns about youths causing a nuisance.

He said: “It has been happening for six months, especially on the weekend, they will be in front of our door and ringing our bell and running off, and if you ask them why do you ring the bell they just laugh at you.

“It intimidates customers, the youths are sitting outside sometimes and they come in and throw merchandise on the floor.”

At a Police and Communities Together (PACT) meeting, PCSO Robert Window, said: “We have got an issue in Fromond Road at St Barnabas Church with a number of teenagers.

“We are sending out a message now because we have had so many complaints and the number of anti social behaviour calls we have had is about 15-20 reports of nuisance in that area."

Parish administrator for St Barnabas Church Ben Whitaker says the church is working with the young people that have been causing problems.

Mr Whitaker, said: “The situation seems to be we have a group of young people who tend to congregate outside the church in the evenings and our new vicar Ed Dines has been getting to know them and develop a relationship with them and that has been positive and we are working with them.

“There was an isolated incident with one individual who caused damage to the doors, we want to engage with them to see what they need. We feel that this area has not got alot provided for that age group.”