PARENTS whose children cause a public nuisance are likely to receive a warning letter from the police.

The local force is determined to crack down on misbehaviour and will ensure that parents know if their children are among those creating a nuisance.

And if the letters are ignored, stronger action could follow, culminating in an anti-social behaviour order, which could ban children from specific areas, impose curfews or order them to refrain from certain types of behaviour.

Such orders are likely to lead to identification and publicity in newspapers so the public can report any breaking of the conditions, which is a criminal offence.

The school holidays has historically brought an increase in juvenile crime, but with Government taking a tough line on anti-social behaviour, the police have stronger powers to tackle the problem and are determined to use them.

Neil Hargreaves is the youth action officer for Craven and he said instead of simply moving children along as might have happened in the past, officers would now inform parents by letter that their children had been causing a nuisance, or drinking alcohol.

A second letter would follow and if the child persisted in causing problems to the community, then an agreed behaviour contract would be drawn up between the child, his or her parents and other organisations such as schools, social services and, if applicable, Craven Housing Association.

The idea is that the contract sets out agreed standards of behaviour.

If broken, the child is in danger of being brought to an adult court and made the subject to a much more serious anti-social behaviour order.

Already five sets of parents in Craven have received a second letter and one contract has been agreed.

PC Hargreaves said that youths simply congregating was not a problem and the public had to have a degree of tolerance.

But when that behaviour included drinking alcohol, upsetting residents by using bad language or petty vandalism, then the police would become involved.