PARENTS are being warned to keep their children in check after a large quantity of alcohol was seized from rowdy youngsters in Colehill.

Nine police officers and the dog unit were called to reports of public disorder as around 40 youths congregated opposite the Co-op store last Friday night.

Now police are calling a meeting between youth leaders, East Dorset District Council and an antisocial behaviour reduction officer to try and come up with a solution that avoids them having to resort to using Section 30 dispersal orders to stop youths gathering.

An 18-year-old lad was arrested and issued with a penalty notice for disorder after shouting and swearing at the police and other youngsters are reported to have been goading the police dog. The problems were reported in by anxious residents at about 9pm.

Sergeant Tim Gallivan of Wimborne police said: "We've had problems like this before in Colehill but it seemed to calm down over the summer months. But new allegiances are being made and the kids are gathering in large numbers again.

"We seized quite a lot of alcohol on Friday night - 21 bottles of beer from one lad alone.

"There seem to be a few troublemakers and the rest are being drawn in.

"Things had been beginning to sort themselves out but they seem to be slipping back into their old ways.

"It's not a crime to gather in the street but if it is causing harassment, alarm or distress to people then it becomes antisocial behaviour.

"I would warn parents that their kids hanging about in such large numbers is causing the police and residents concern, which could leave us with little option but to use more robust methods."

First published: October 13