A POLICE crackdown on anti-social behaviour appears to have been successful.

The Worcester News reported in July last year how West Mercia Police had cracked down on anti-social behaviour in Warndon after complaints from shopkeepers.

A year on, and shopkeepers say that the problem is not as bad as it was, when residents complained about gangs of teenagers who hang around the complex drinking alcohol and intimidating shoppers.

Sharon Dangerfield from the Age UK shop in Cranham Parade, said: "It has been much better since the Police got involved last year.

"These days we hardly see them.

"I suppose the reason these kids behaved like that is because they haven't really got anything to do."

Justine Evans from Ma Bakers said: "It (anti-social behaviour) isn't really something we have noticed.

"During the six-weeks holiday when the kids are out of school you notice a lot of them passing by but it hasn't affected us really.

"The big thing is finding them something to do."

A member of staff from Nisa Local, who did not want to be named, said: "In the day it isn't too bad but you do get groups of kids hanging round at night.

"It is good that the Police have been trying to deal with it though."

On Sunday, July 21, officers from West Mercia Police had been in the vicinity of Cranham Drive and Chedworth Drive dealing with a report of an attempted burglary.

South Worcestershire Cops on Twitter posted a photo of several officers saying that Worcester's Police Team C and the Warndon SNT were in the Chedworth/Cranham Drive area after community concerns of anti-social behaviour.

Inspector David Troth from West Mercia Police said: "We aren't running a campaign as such in Warndon.

"We have to be adaptive and on that particular day (Sunday) we sent officers because we received a report that an individual was trying to break into a property.

"He was disturbed by officers and nothing more came of it.

"We have plans in place for anti-social behaviour, and we will continue to look at it now the summer holidays are here and the kids are out of school."

The original police crackdown was the result of a new 48-hour dispersal order which enabled officers to move the gangs away.