POLICE in Kidlington have vowed to nip rising teenage bad behaviour “in the bud” as the summer holidays start.

The officers spent Saturday on the beat in areas where youngsters gather, in an effort to deter antisocial behaviour.

There was one arrest for cannabis possession, three fixed penalty notices, one warning and five stop and searches.

Police sergeant Colin Travi said: “The most valuable aspects were gathering intelligence; where people are going and when they are going.

“Speaking to Joe Public, they were pleased to see the Old Bill out and about and disrupting a lot of the drugs activity.

“Those were the major win-wins.”

The operation was the first of at least three planned for the summer holidays.

Sgt Travi said: “We are trying to target areas where anti-social behaviour is occurring and to target our known offenders.

“We are looking to nip it in the bud now that it is the summer holidays and send a message that we will not tolerate it.”

Sgt Travi said there had been a recent rise in antisocial behaviour, but no more than was happening nationally. Problems included bins being set on fire.

Five officers took part in the operation, two in a car patrolling outlying rural areas, two on bike and Sgt Travi on foot.

Sgt Travi was accompanied by Cherwell District Council antisocial behaviour officer Neil Francis and Oxfordshire county councillor for Kidlington and Yarnton Maurice Billington.

Steve Haynes, chairman of Kidlington Youth Football Club, whose Orchard Recreation Ground clubhouse was vandalised recently, backed the action.

He said: “It is very much needed in my view, because in the past there has not been enough visibility.

“It is all about making sure people have got respect for their community and the facilities within their community, and this will help to reinforce that.”

Orchard Way resident Peter Abraham, 69, spent Friday morning picking up alcohol bottles in the park.

He said: “It annoys me to see all the rubbish left around here.”

Aaron Quelch, 22, said: “People will not commit crime when police are about. I would like to see it happen more often.”