Police officers are patrolling the streets with video cameras to cut down on youngsters misbehaving, writes Emma Henry.

Two officers were out in Banbury over the Bank Holiday weekend videoing groups of youngsters producing excessive noise or making a nuisance of themselves.

The footage will be shown to the youngsters' parent, and will also be used as part of future talks aimed at improving youth facilities in the town.

Sgt Paul Whitty of Banbury police said the initiative was part of the Streetwise 2000 campaign, which aimed to clamp down on youth disorder issues. Sgt Whitty said: "Youth-related problems are difficult to deal with, because normally they fall short of criminal offences. It is hard for us to deal with and get a firm result at the end of it.

"This gives us quite a powerful image to take back to parents and make them aware of what is going on. Filming these youngsters may also be enough to stop them misbehaving."

Problems include large groups of youngsters frightening elderly people with constant swearing, and disrupting the activities of pedestrians and shoppers in community areas. Key areas being targeted include the people's park, Hardwick shops and the cemetery.

He said the filming would be overt, not concealed.