Gangs of youths hanging out in streets committing antisocial behaviour were targeted by police in Headington.

Officers from the area's neighbourhood team carried out a crackdown between Saturday, March 15, and Tuesday, March 18.

Pc Chris Miles, who organised the operation, said he felt it had been a success in curbing antisocial behaviour. He said: "We worked with the Neighbourhood Action Groups to identify which areas had problems with antisocial behaviour and targeted those areas specifically at given times.

"We targeted areas such as Bury Knowle Park in Headington, the shops in Wood Farm, the play park in Richards Way in Risinghurst and Underhill Circus in Barton.

"Typically we get a number of reports of people causing trouble in these areas, but in the four days the operation was running we didn't receive any complaints."

Two people who had failed to attend court were arrested during stop checks carried out as part of the operation. Pc Miles added: "We have been able to develop alternative ways of dealing with those acting in an antisocial manner other than making arrests.

"Rather than looking to arrest individuals straight away, we've been trying to build relationships and make people understand why their actions are causing other people distress.

"We also worked with pubs in the area to highlight any customers they think might cause problems on their way home, as we have found that a lot of the antisocial activities were happening later in the evening.

"We reassured the landlords that we would help them if they had any problems and would make drinkers aware of our presence."

Pc Charlie Ellissaid they would carry out similar crackdowns in the future. He said: "We want to have a visible presence in the community. We want people to know that we are targeting areas the public feel are a problem.

"The Neighbourhood Action Group scheme has allowed us to gather information for the community and focus the way we patrol the area."

Anyone who wants to contact the police about antisocial behaviour in their area can log on to website www.thamesvalley.police.uk and contact their neighbourhood team.