ADULTS have been buying drink for under-age teenagers in Hartford.
People were spotted handing over bottles and cans to youngsters outside shops in the village, say police officers who caught the actions on camera as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour.
Now parents are being asked to keep their children under control.
Community police officers will send letters to parents and visit homes in a bid to inform families of villagers' concerns at unruly behaviour in the area.
Hartford residents have highlighted problems caused by large gatherings of youngsters in the village including intimidation, vandalism and increased levels of shoplifing.
Incidents reported to a meeting of Hartford Parish Council included eggs being thrown at windows, damage caused to the Co-Op shop by an air rifle and 'disgusting' abuse hurled at residents.
Earlier this month, officers from the Northwich Community Action Team (CAT) launched Operation Normandy in a bid to defuse the situation.
Officers from the Special Constabulary worked alongside plain-clothed officers patrolling the area around School Lane.
Video footage of about 30 youngsters who congregated in the area was gathered and some of the youths were seen to be drinking from 'alcopop' and vodka bottles. Several of them were behaving badly and intimidating customers using the shops.
'Several adults were approached by young people clearly under 18, asking them to buy alcohol,' said a spokesman for Northwich's CAT team.
As a result of the problems in the area, the village millennium benches have been removed to reduce the potential for large gatherings of youngsters to hang around in School Lane.
'This action was taken reluctantly after liaison between the parish council and the police,' said the spokesman.
- Sergeant Vince Morrison and his Northwich-based CAT team will be monitoring Hartford as well as areas such as Weaverham, Barnton and Rudheath. The Northwich CAT team can be contacted on 01244 612543.