POLICE and council crime fighters in Christchurch have convened a meeting next week to report back to residents on measures to combat the menace of antisocial behaviour in the Jumpers and Bernards Mead area of the borough.

The move comes after more than 130 local people put their name to a petition calling for a crackdown on young rowdies gathering on the riverside open space and causing problems with late night noise, nuisance, litter, vandalism and violence.

Presented to the council meeting last month and expected to come before the community services committee in June, the petition calls for the authorities to invoke their powers to disperse gangs of youths, declare alcohol-free zones in problem areas and install CCTV cameras.

But petitioners invited to the meeting at Christchurch infant school on Tuesday May 24 will hear that steps have already been taken to target teen troublemakers and curb their antisocial activities.

These include five "acceptable behaviour contracts" agreed with young people in the area and warnings to three people regarding antisocial behaviour orders.

And a further CCTV camera is also being planned for the roundabout on the junction of Grove and Barrack Road.

Council antisocial behaviour reduction officer Diana Webster said the contracts negotiated with youngsters were proving highly successful elsewhere.

She said: "We don't want to criminalise young people. The main message is to get them to understand the impact their behaviour has on other people.

"If they breach the contract there is a warning that it could be taken as further evidence towards an anti-social behaviour order and if it really breaks down then we will be looking at making an order."

First published: May 19