POLICE have rounded up parents in a bid to stop youngsters causing criminal damage.

Officers presented mums and dads with a catalogue of crimes carried out in Briercliffe in a bid to draw their attention to the problems being caused in the village.

Briercliffe Community Beat Manager PC Ian Thompson said that the majority of the parents were horrified at the damage caused and the fact that their children may be involved.

And he urged them to keep a closer check on what their offspring could be getting up to.

He said: "We invited a number of parents in to speak to us because we believed that they weren't aware of the damage being caused in their local community - or the fact that the finger of suspicion was being pointed at their children.

"I think it's fair to say that they were very alarmed although one of them claimed it was because the youths had nothing else to do which is a claim we would firmly reject. Boredom is no excuse for causing damage and destruction to the local community."

He added: "As a result of the meeting, we've had far fewer incidents reported over the past week. Some of this will no doubt be as a result of some frank talking between the parents we met and their children.

"What this exercise proved is that many parents have no idea where their children are and what they are up to, With this in mind, I would appeal to parents to make sure they keep a closer eye on their kids. As parents they have a clear responsibility to make sure their child is not acting in a criminal or anti-social manner."

He said: "On this occasion we didn't have any firm evidence to arrest or charge any of the youths. However, rest assured, where clear evidence of offences is forthcoming, people will be put before the courts."

The move comes in the same week that a 13-year-old youth became the first to be banned from the area's stores as part of a shopwatch scheme.