A GROUP of youths have been slapped with anti-social behaviour warnings following reports they were terrorising staff and shoppers at a local retail park.

Along with the warnings, the children’s parents were also visited and made aware of their children’s anti-social behaviour.

Officers from West Yorkshire Police’s Neighbourhood Policing Team in Batley and Spen were patrolling in Heckmondwike, at Northgate Retail Centre, where a group of youths have been behaving anti-socially.

Their behaviour has been causing distress for staff and shoppers at McDonald’s, Lidl, and Poundstretcher at the retail park just outside the town centre.

Police visited the site on Monday and identified many of the youths involved and 10 of the 12 were issued with anti-social behaviour warnings.

Batley and Spen NPT added: “Officers have also visited their parents to enlightened them of what problems they have been causing in Heckmondwike.”

Officers revisited the site on Tuesday evening and found no youths causing issues, with everything in order.

An anti-social behaviour warning is the first step that must be taken by police before a person can be served with an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO).

It constitutes an official notice that a person should stop the behaviour in question, as it is causing fear or distress within the community, or is preventing others’ enjoyment.

If the person fails to adhere to this advice, it is likely they will be given an ASBO – along with any other punishment detailed in the warning.

The visit was conducted as part of Batley and Spen NPT’s Neighbourhood Policing Week of Action.

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