POLICE are urging residents and businesses to continue to report matters of antisocial behaviour on a city shopping strip, as officers attempt to get a grip on the problem of troublesome youths.

Residents and businesses in Cranham Parade, Cranham Drive, Warndon, have been complaining for months about gangs of teenagers who hang around the complex drinking alcohol and intimidating shoppers and those who live nearby.

In October, officers were granted the power to move the teens out of the area for up to 48 hours at a time in new dispersal orders.

Sergeant Simon Hallam of Warndon Safer Neighbourhood Team said: “Officers instigated a dispersal order in line with S35 of Anti Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

“As a result, a number of youths have been spoken to by the team in recent weeks.”

He went on to say: “We continue to work with our partners in an attempt to address the issue of reported anti-social behaviour in the vicinity of Cranham Parade shops in Warndon.

“As such, we would urge local residents and businesses to continue to report matters of this nature to police so that we can work together and take positive action.”

Ray Deo, 48, who runs Nisa Local, said he banned the teens – who he believes are aged between 12 and 16 – from entering his shop weeks ago.

“They are here every day,” he told the Worcester News in November. “I don’t let them pass through the door. They’ve tried to come back but I won’t let them.”

Another employee at the mini supermarket, who did not wish to be named, said: “They are just a nuisance, banging on the windows, shouting things.”

The manager of Age UK, who did not wish to be named, said: “I know the police have had a lot of complaints about them. I try to deal with it myself to be fair."