As the latest results of the city-wide Operation Dry Up campaign were revealed, Barnhill community officer Bob Jeffrey appealed to parents to play a part in tackling drink-fuelled disturbances.

“Since the New Year, residents in the Barnhill area have endured varying degrees of disorder and anti-social behaviour by groups of young people, some of them as young as 12 years old,” said Constable Jeffrey.

“Sometimes there have been as many as 50 youngsters in these groups.

“When they indulge in under-age drinking, rowdiness and on occasions criminal behaviour such as vandalism and assault, that creates fear and alarm in the local area.

“Sometimes, the sheer size and presence of such groups is very intimidating to members of the community and it is not something that we will tolerate.

“This behaviour is predominant at weekends, but has also spilled over into weekdays. It has a detrimental effect on the community, particularly the elderly and other vulnerable groups, and we will continue to take action where such incidents arise.

Constable Jeffrey said parents could improve the lives of everyone in their local area by taking time to find out where their children were, who they were with, what they were doing and even what they were spending their pocket money on.

“Too many parents think their child wouldn’t get involved and that it is youngsters from other parts of the city coming into the area who are causing bother,” he continued.

“True, we do find there are some from other areas, but the vast majority are local and live fairly close by.

“I would appeal to all parents to consider first whether they would appreciate large groups of young people ‘hanging around’ on their doorstep and then take the time to find out what their children are up to.

“I don’t subscribe to the view that there is nothing better for young people to do these days. There are lots of activities available now for youngsters and they should be encouraged to get involved.

“Parents can nip this behaviour in the bud. If they don’t then they are leaving their children open to being dealt with by the law in its various forms.

“In extremes, that can result in arrest and parents attending at police headquarters to collect sons and daughters. Please don’t let it come to that.”

Tayside Police is engaged in a crackdown on under-age drinking which includes additional patrols at suspected hotspots across Dundee.

In the course of last weekend, officers recovered nine litres of cider, three bottles of vodka, two litres of Mad Dog 20/20 and numerous bottles of alcohol mixed with soft drinks.

On Friday, three teenage girls were traced in the Dundonald Street area after trying to persuade passers-by to buy alcohol for them. All of the teenagers had their details taken and were warned about their behaviour. The same evening, a number of youngsters who were trying to get members of the public to buy them alcohol outside Tesco in Lochee were also traced, warned and moved on.

A litre of vodka was seized from a group of young people near to Charleston Post Office and they were moved on. In the Stobswell area, a 13-year-old boy was taken home to his parents after being found drunk. Two litre bottles of Mad Dog 20/20 were seized from the group he had been with.

On Saturday, high-profile patrols were despatched to areas where it was believed that children would try to persuade adults to buy drink for them and this appeared to have a positive deterrent effect.

Alcohol was taken from a 17-year-old in Turnberry Avenue and more was seized when officers attended the Black Street/Cleghorn Street area, off Lochee Road. On this occasion youngsters ran off leaving the drink behind.

Anyone with information about under-age drinking, youths causing annoyance or anti-social behaviour should call the police on Dundee 223200.