YOUNG people are often unfairly tarred with the same brush.

It only takes a few to misbehave - gathering on a street corner or in a local park while drinking from cans and shouting abuse, for example - for the same old complaints to begin.

The fact is that a small minority of young people do misbehave, however. It often happens when they're in groups. And while they probably don't realise how intimidating their behaviour can be, it can make the rest of us feel uncomfortable.

Tackling the bad behaviour of the minority is surely the best way to stop all young people being labelled.

So we support Operation Liberate, the police's planned summer blitz on antisocial behaviour, in which 'roving patrols' of PCSOs will target known bad behaviour hotspots.

Summer is traditionally a time when young people gather to let their hair down.

"So we're getting high visibility patrols in the correct areas at the correct times such as parks and Museum Gardens, where we know there will be increased incidents," said Inspector Lee Pointon of York Police.

The best thing about the crackdown is that it will take a 'softly softly' approach.

Instead of just hauling miscreants off to the police station, some will be encouraged to move on. Others will be taken to a 'place of safety' at the Jack Raine Foundation, a local charity that works with families and young people. There, their behaviour will be assessed before they are referred on to partner organisations or the youth offending team for help, advice or support.

It sounds an enlightened approach: one which we hope will result in less antisocial behaviour and a more positive relationship between the police and young people.