• Police acted following reports of abusive youngsters in Belmont Street Retail Park

• Three teenagers spoken to along with parents

• Police say they take anti-social behaviour 'very seriously'

• Parents urged to make sure they know where their children are

Derbyshire Police say three teenagers and their parents have received warnings about their behaviour after complaints about anti-social behaviour in Swadlincote town centre.

The action was taken over last weekend, Saturday, 11 January – Sunday, 12 January, after complaints were received from members of the public about groups of young people in the Belmont Street Retail Park, behaving in an anti-social manner and being abusive when challenged.

Officers from the Swadlincote Safer Neighbourhood Team worked in partnership with colleagues from South

Derbyshire District Council to issue Community Protection Notices (CPN) to the parents of two 14 and 15 year-old boys from the town. Another 14-year-old boy's parents were issued with a Community Protection Warning Notice.

These warnings and notices form part of a stepped approach under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to try and prevent a range of anti-social behaviour and unreasonable conduct.

First of all a warning is issued (CPWN) and if this fails to stop the behaviour a notice (CPN) can be issued where failure to comply can lead to a fixed penalty notice, remedial action or a court order.

Sergeant Tarj Nizzer, who is one of the Sergeants in-charge of Safer Neighbourhood policing in South Derbyshire, said: "We take such complaints seriously as we believe that people should be able to go about their daily business without being subject to anti-social behaviour.

"Together with South Derbyshire District Council we issue these notices to individuals or their parents, in the case of those under 16-years of age, to set out exactly the type of behaviour that is unacceptable thus giving them a chance to change their ways.

"The action shows that we will not accept anti-social behaviour and will take the necessary action to prevent it and as such I would ask that parents and carers take actions to know where their children are and what they are doing as they will be held responsible for their actions if caught causing such issues."