Police are to mount a high-visibility operation in a bid to stop gangs of rowdy youths causing a nuisance in Baildon.

And officers are promising tough action will be taken against anyone caught causing problems.

The move comes after police received complaints from residents about a group of unruly youths causing problems in the Baildon Road area last weekend.

PC Steve Tudge, beat manager for Coach Road and Baildon Green, said there had been several reports of minor damage being caused including figures in the nativity scene outside Baildon Vicarage being knocked over and a bus stop being vandalised.

He said: "We had several calls about a group of youths running amok, causing a nuisance and minor vandalism in that area.

"Youths drinking and causing problems are a continuing problem which occurs year after year.

"But over the last 12 months problems in this area have been addressed by various initiatives from other agencies such as Baildon Action for Youth and the Council's youth services office.

"It had been very quiet but for some reason the problems just started up again last weekend.''

PC Tudge said the long-term strategy was to get young people off the streets by providing things for them to do but he added that short-term measures were also needed to clamp down on anti-social activities now.

He added: "We want people to know that we are aware of what's happening and are trying to do something about it.

"Members of the Community Action Team will be mounting an operation in the Baildon area with high-visibility mobile and foot patrols.

"The aim is to identify trouble causers and deal with them in a firm manner.''

l PC Tudge is staging the first in a series special surgeries - aimed at giving local people the chance to talk to him about any crime or policing issues - at Baildon Community Link's headquarters in Cliffe Avenue between 6.30 and 8.30pm next Wednesday.

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