POLICE and partner organisations are making good progress in tackling the anti-social behaviour problems that have been affecting Upton-upon-Severn on weekend evenings.

At a meeting of Upton Town Council, Inspector Clive Griffiths told members that he had personally visited all of the pubs in Upton and found a “great willingness to help”.

He said that a meeting between police, Malvern Hills District Council and the majority of the town’s licensees had proved very beneficial, and that there seemed to be a general willingness to restart the licensees network in the town. He also praised the town’s Co-op and Spar supermarkets for adopting “over-25s” schemes to help prevent young people getting their hands on alcohol.

Insp Griffiths said that police and partner organisations have been working hard to discourage teenagers and young adults from other parts of the district coming to Upton on Friday and Saturday evenings.

He also repeated a call to parents to ensure they do not encourage underage drinking by supplying alcohol to their children.

“This is an area that still needs some work,” he said.

“It is irresponsible for adults, particularly parents, to supply underage teenagers with alcohol.”

A consultation on the introduction of a Designated Public Place Order that would give police officers additional powers to seize alcohol is now under way and representatives of the South Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership’s detached youth team will be in Upton on Friday evenings to tackle anti-social behaviour and encourage those involved to act responsibly.