POLICE have launched a major crackdown on anti-social behaviour today as schoolchildren break up for the summer holidays.

Special constables will be patrolling Andover town centre and residential hot-spots at weekends and in the evenings to provide greater reassurance to members of the community.

Insp Shona Hood said: "It is noticeable at this time of the year when children are on school holidays, when the weather is warmer and the days longer, more people, especially younger people, tend to spend more time out in the open.

"This often results in an increase in anti-social behaviour, and by utilising the specials, who are an additional and valuable free resource, we can provide members of the community with an improved service and try to minimise the number of incidents reported to us."

The summer operation - part of the police Safer Streets campaign - will involve six to eight officers patrolling on foot or in a police vehicle with clear aims and objectives.

These include high visibility patrols to boost community reassurance.

Patrols will also be dealing with underage drinking, seizing and disposing of alcohol and enforcing the peace by dealing with acts of anti-social behaviour.

The specials will also be issuing Section 59 notices or fixed penalty notices to people causing a nuisance with a vehicle, including motorised scooters and Go-peds.

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