POLICE have arrested and charged a youth and dealt with nine offenders after bad behaviour on a Bradford estate.

The juvenile, who cannot be named for legal reasons relating to their age, has will face Bradford Youth Court next month for anti-social behaviour offences across the Bradford East area.

It comes after the Ravenscliffe estate has been plagued with misbehaving yobs for the past month, with the 645 bus service forced to refuse to enter the area on four occasions in less than three weeks, after being attacked.

The latest of these incidents happened on Easter Monday, when two of the buses were ambushed in a short space of time as they both entered the estate via Ravenscliffe Avenue.

A witness said two windows on each of the buses were smashed by youths throwing rocks at them, leaving one young boy onboard shaken.

Acting Police Sergeant Sam Brown, of Bradford East Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), revealed police received five reports of criminal damage at the entrance to the estate over the Easter weekend.

Officers identified and dealt with nine offenders of anti-social behaviour, as well as arresting and charging the previously mentioned juvenile.

The nine other individuals were handed either anti-social behaviour contracts, final warnings, or referrals to the anti-social behaviour youth panel.

PS Brown said: "This weekend Neighbourhood policing officers arrested and charged a juvenile with anti-social behaviour offences across the Bradford East area.

"We also have identified and dealt with 9 offenders of anti-social behaviour, through anti-social behaviour contracts, final warnings and referrals to the anti-social behaviour youth panel.

"We hope this sends a clear message to other offenders that we take reports extremely seriously and we do everything we can to deal with offenders robustly.

"Over the Easter weekend we took five reports of Criminal Damage at the Ravenscliffe Avenue and Harrogate Road junction."

The arrest and direction action are just one part of what the Bradford East NPT is doing to try alleviate the problems.

Officers are also undertaking a variety of activities to try prevent any more anti-social behaviour, or stop it in its tracks quickly.

PS Brown said: "We have increased foot patrols in the area, along with PCSO’s travelling on buses and marked police cars following buses throughout the estate.

"We continue to work closely with our partners to address concerns about antisocial behaviour.

"Work is ongoing to identify other offenders and we are making positive progress."

The Sergeant has made it clear though that a crucial element in rooting out the problem, is support from the community and those in and around the estate.

He said: "Targeting antisocial behaviour is a high priority for Bradford East but we need help from the community.

"I would appeal for residents who know who is involved to tell us in confidence.

"The bus company have repeatedly pulled the service through the estate which residents rely on heavily.

"Catching and dealing with those responsible is key to keeping this service running safely."

If you see any anti-social behaviour in the Ravenscliffe area, or anywhere in Bradford, or have any information that could help police with investigations into this kind of crime, you should contact them on 101, or using the contact options on the West Yorkshire Police website.