A GROUP of troublesome teenagers have been banned from the Ozone leisure complex, at Oxford’s Kassam Stadium, after terrorising the public.

Two youths, who police say are the ringleaders of the group, have also been served with Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) because of their persistent antisocial behaviour at the site, which includes the Vue cinema.

Blackbird Leys neighbourhood police said the pair were from the local area but refused to name them.

They said the teens, and their group of friends – aged between 15 and 16 – had repeatedly harassed staff and users of the complex.

Oxford City Council’s crime and nuisance action team served the ABCs last month, helped by neighbourhood police.

Police Community Support Officer Alex Benjamin, said: “The group in question had been causing antisocial behaviour, running in and out of the centre and generally being a nuisance.”

He said the problem had been going on since November.

He added: “There are two ringleaders, who have been given the ABCs and they, and their friends, are now banned from being in the Kassam Stadium area.

“ A lot of people have spoken to the team since and said they feel much more comfortable around here.”

Acceptable Behaviour Contracts are generally given to young people and children who repeatedly cause a nuisance and are antisocial.

The contracts spell out what the recipient is forbidden from doing, and what they need to do to change their behaviour.

They are not legally binding, but, if they are breached, officers can use them as evidence to support an application for an Antisocial Behaviour Order (asbo).

Pcso Benjamin said: “If the group continues to cause more problems we can extend the ABC or move to issue them with an asbo.”

Fellow Pcso Barry Sheehan added: “We hope that by understanding the effect of their behaviour on members of the public and businesses within the complex, these contracts will help improve their behaviour and attitudes towards others in the future.”

A spokesman for Oxford City Council said: “We hope that this will reduce the problem of antisocial behaviour in the area.”