POLICE are stepping up their crackdown on anti-social behaviour on a York stray this weekend, following increasing problems of drinking, littering and intimidating behaviour by groups of youths.

Parents are being urged to give their support as officers carry out high-visibility patrols into the early hours in a bid to deter ‘unacceptable’ behaviour which has recently been seen in the Little Knavesmire area.

Dispersal orders have also been put in place for each day, giving officers the ability to disperse groups and prevent people from returning within a specific timeframe.

News of the action comes after three teenagers were arrested following violent disorder in the area last Friday evening, which left a 16-year-old youth requiring hospital treatment.

Dozens of young people were said to have gathered in the area during the disturbance. The three arrested individuals were released on bail pending further inquiries.

Local residents claimed this was just the latest incident in a growing problem of anti-social behaviour in the area.

Inspector Lee Pointon, of York Neighbourhood Policing Team, said he had had to take action following a number of reports of youths congregating, drinking and causing problems for local people.

He said that while some were from the local area, others had come there from all over York, and there had been suggestions that some had been dropped off there by their parents.

“We also need to remember that we are still easing our way out of lockdown and we need to keep the Roadmap on track and not jeopardise our progress,” he said.

“We know the last year has been difficult for everyone, but the easing of some restrictions is not a green light to gather in large groups, get drunk and intimidate local families who want to enjoy the area responsibly.

“I am calling on parents to help us here, to not buy alcohol for their children, to make sure they know where they are this weekend and understand that they are not invincible when it comes to the virus that could still be spread to their families.”

He thanked parents in advance for their cooperation.

He revealed that police officers, police community support officers and special constables would be involved in the action, with support from other agencies such as the council’s Covid marshals.

He said the location had started to become a focus for trouble last summer but the problems had returned and worsened in recent weeks, and the police action was in response to concerns expressed by the local community.

Insp Pointon said the dispersal orders were in place to ensure officers had the powers to disperse young people from the area, with people failing to comply under risk of arrest. He added that the police action would continue as long as the problems continued.