POLICE in Darwen say they are determined to combat the problem of youth nuisance in the forthcoming school holidays.

Beat officers from around the town have been visiting all the primary and secondary schools asking pupils to behave during the week-long half-term break which starts on Monday.

Police say there is a rise of about 50 per cent in the number of reports of nuisance being caused by youths during the school holidays and that dealing with them takes up a large portion of their time.

The talks given to pupils will point out that anti-social behaviour and juvenile nuisance is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

This is similar to a scheme last year which concentrated on the youth problem. Police said that was a success and resulted in two pub licensees receiving formal cautions for serving under-age drinkers. Pubs will also be targeted in this scheme.

PC Craig Shaw is one of the officers involved in the initiative. He visited St Peter's Primary School, Turncroft Road on Friday to speak to year six pupils.

He said: "During the half-term holidays there does appear to be an increase in the number of calls to police about nuisance.

"This initiative has been formulated to appeal to Darwen's youths to be aware of their behaviour."

As well as the visits, police will be stepping up patrols throughout the holidays. PC Shaw said: "During the week officers from the Special Constabulary will be performing high visibility patrols in some of the parks. Coupled with that there will be covert patrols carried out by officers in plain clothes both during the day and the evening."

It is also hoped the initiative will encourage youths to report crimes themselves instead of standing by and letting things happen.

"We hope this initiative can help create a partnership between the police, teachers, parents and pupils," said PC Shaw.

"There is a lot of information within the schools that we should be made aware of. We want school pupils to approach the police, and hopefully this initiative will be a step in the right direction."

Insp Tracie O'Gara said: "There are no definite figures on the amount of juvenile nuisance calls we get but it is about a 50 per cent rise. These people are soon to become adults and they should learn their responsibility to the community around them."

Head-teachers in Darwen have backed the idea. Frank Jeffs, head of St Peter's Primary School said: "We support any action the police take to try and get children to behave themselves better and not putting themselves in a position on danger in the evening.

"The visit was very informative and I hope children take heed so we can try and eradicate the problem."