ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour and underage drinking in Okehampton is on the decrease — thanks to a new initiative aimed at reducing the number of young people causing a nuisance on the streets.

The Okehampton Neighbourhood Policing Team has been conducting pro-active, plain clothes foot patrols in the West Devon area, as well as a large number of stop-checks, particularly in the Alcohol Designation Zones in Okehampton.

These have resulted in alcohol being confiscated and groups of young people being moved on.

Mayor of Okehampton Cllr David Weekes said: 'It's great that anti-social behaviour has dropped and it's definitely something we want to stamp out.

'There is still a way to go, but it would be fantastic if someone could supply somewhere for the under 18s.

'In my day we used to have a snooker club above Rumours nightclub where the youngsters could go, but I feel sorry for the kids these days, because there's nowhere for them to go and that is part of the problem.'

Devon County councillor and West Devon Borough member Cllr Christine Marsh said the answer to the problem lay in offering somewhere for young people to socialise without alcohol.

She said: 'It's nice to see the local police getting more involved in our community to try and tackle anti-social behaviour.

'It would be good if we could look more strategically at the problem and look at why young people are so bored — why are they acting in this way?

'One of the things they keep on saying is there is nothing for them to do or places for them to go.

'Youth clubs are not necessarily the answer and there are no cafés for them in the evenings.

'I have talked to them time and time again, and all they want is somewhere where they can go to chill out with their friends in the warm, listen to some music and have some fun.'

Cllr Marsh said giving young people a base would make a big difference.

She said: 'It's an opportunity for the pubs to think a little wider — maybe there's a room out the back they can offer?

'They are open all the time and not everybody wants to drink.

'As long as no alcohol is offered, young people could have somewhere with a pool table and somewhere they can go.

'I'm sure if they had something like that there wouldn't be all this boredom and anti-social behaviour.'

New neighbourhood team leader at Okehampton Police Station, Sgt Lee Nattrass, said: 'As part of our ongoing liaison with the community, officers from Okehampton Neighbourhood Team have been carrying out numerous high visibility and plain clothes patrols to tackle anti-social behaviour within the area. 

'Since the introduction of the Alcohol Designated Order in Okehampton town centre we have seen a reduction in anti-social behaviour and related crimes, compared with this time last year.

'However, we are continuing to carry out stop searches and alcohol seizures in areas that the public have told us are problematic. 

'We will continue to educate and prosecute offenders and for those that cause specific problems we will seek to obtain anti-social behaviour orders.'

Uniformed police have also been targeting anti-social vehicles in the Okehampton and Hatherleigh areas and two stop checks resulted in cannabis being seized, as well as an offensive weapon.

The neighbourhood policing team have also been conducting speedwatch campaigns in the Thorndon Cross, Whiddon Down and Bridestowe areas.

Anyone who may witness or suffer from anti-social behaviour can phone Okehampton Police Station on 08452 777 444.