A police operation to prevent Brighton and Hove youths getting involved in crime has been given a funding boost.

Operation Park was launched last April to proactively reduce the number of youngsters entering the criminal justice system by tackling the route causes of criminal behaviour.

The city's police have heralded the operation a success having only issued one antisocial behaviour order since the launch of the operation.

Chief Inspector Laurence Taylor said: “Operation Park is aimed at preventing antisocial behaviour and preventing young people getting into the criminal justice system.

“Every Friday and Saturday night officers from the city's neighbourhood policing teams take to the streets to engage with young people.

“At about 4pm to 5pm we try to identify groups of young people and engage with them to break down barriers and we also remove alcohol, which become factors later in the evening.”

Officers then follow a serious of steps to route out persistent trouble makers.

“If we find somebody behaving in a way we consider inappropriate we record their details on a database.

“We take them home or call their parents. Then they will get a letter saying why their behaviour was unacceptable and the implications.

“If they are identified a second time, we take them home again and they will have a joint visit from the council's antisocial behaviour team and the police.

“If that again doesn't work we will draw up an acceptable behaviour contract (ABC) with the young person.

“If again that doesn't work they can get an ABC Plus issued at the police station or in custody. That way they realise what they are up against if they are not careful.

“Finally we would refer it to the antisocial behaviour team and begin the process of getting an Asbo against them.”

The system has proved so successful at deterring yobs from getting into trouble that only one person under the age of 17 has been issued an Asbo in the last year. Between 2003 and 2008, 50 Asbos were issued to juveniles.

Thanks to the success of the scheme it has been provided with a £50,000 share of £350,000 funding for youth projects from the Youth Crime Action Team.

The extra money will fund more staff during the weekend patrols and also mean a responsible adult at Brighton Youth Centre can take care of any children whose parents or guardians cannot be contacted.

Chief Insp Taylor said: “It has been a really successful operation and this extra funding will mean it can keep going from strength to strength.

“This is very much a multi-agency approach which is working.”

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