TACKLING antisocial behaviour and other crime in Studley was top of the agenda when police, residents and councillors gathered in the village.

Alcester area sector commander Insp Tim Bailey came face to face with residents at last Wednesday's meeting - many of them from the Allendale Crescent area, which has been blighted by nuisance youths for some time.

Insp Bailey outlined a number of recent operations and initiatives which his officers had undertaken in the drive to stamp out low-level crime.

They include:

Operation Elongate - enhanced policing presence at certain times to stamp out general disorder.

Dispersal orders - the moving on of threatening gangs. Used several times in the past few months.

£80 fixed penalty notices - these have started to be used for disorder offences for youths as young as 16.

Operation Guardian - a pro-active initiative to contact and monitor troublemakers and their families and issue Acceptable Behaviour Contracts where necessary. Thirty-four Studley youths are currently the focus of various police warnings.

Insp Bailey said reported instances of disorder in Studley had fallen by 43 per cent since April, overall recorded crime was down by 35 per cent and the detection rate for crime was running at 41 per cent.

He added police currently had nine Studley people on bail pending investigations into the supply of drugs and two off-licences were being investigated by trading standards for selling alcohol to underage youths as part of Operation Acquit.

"Policing in Studley continues with energy and enthusiasm and as well as all the initiatives, Studley also has the normal 24/7 reactive policing from Alcester," said Insp Bailey.

Parish council chairman Bill McCarthy said many residents were now concerned it was younger children who were now causing most of the antisocial behaviour.

"It seems to be children aged about 10 to 14," said Mr McCarthy.

"I know one who has caused mayhem and he's not even secondary school age yet.

"I guess it's just a few that lead the rest. The problem for the police is finding the evidence. They can't just arrest people with no evidence."