POLICE in Winyates, Matchborough and Church Hill have launched a plea for residents' help to crack down on nuisance youths and vandalism.

Officers have spoken exclusively to the Advertiser about the groundbreaking tactics they are now using to rid the streets of anti-social behaviour.

The public is being asked to report anti-social behaviour with times, dates and names if possible.

For months now, officers at Winyates Centre police office have been collecting evidence on young troublemakers on the estates.

So far, four people have been given Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) and last week, seven youths were issued with Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs).

The Advertiser revealed how a 16-year-old youth from Crabbs Cross became the first person in Redditch to sign an ABC just a day earlier.

Those who sign an ABC have to pledge to stop their nuisance behaviour or eventually face being put before a court and issued with an ASBO which, if breached, could lead to imprisonment.

Another five ABCs will be signed within the next month and work to issue a further two ASBOs is being finalised.

Beat manager Pc Dave Wilkins said it was the minority, not the majority, of young people causing problems.