Bracknell

An operation designed to reduce anti-social behaviour and youth disorder is currently underway throughout the Bracknell Forest area.

Codenamed Operation Lascar, the Bracknell crackdown was launched last month and will continue throughout the summer. The operation is a response to problems in the area including groups of young people drinking, being verbally abusive and intimidating, causing a disturbance, throwing litter and causing criminal damage. There have also been cases of Bracknell youngsters outside shops asking adults to buy alcohol and cigarettes on their behalf.

Sergeant Graham Thorne from the Bracknell Neighbourhood Policing team, who is leading the operation, believes that the high-visibility police presence will provide reassurance to residents and deter nuisance behaviour.

He said: “Operation Lascar is designed to tackle anti-social behaviour and other criminal activity within Bracknell Forest.

“The message is clear: if you intend to act in an anti-social manner or commit crime, don’t come into the Bracknell Forest area.

“If you decide not to take this advice and commit an offence you can expect to be dealt with.

“Our aim is to ensure Bracknell Forest remains a safe and pleasant place for people to live, visit and work.”

To deal with any breaches of the law, officers will be using street warnings, fixed penalty notices and arrests. Officers will be identifying underage people in possession of alcohol and will seize it, people buying alcohol and passing it onto minors, and they will also be stop checking and taking the details of youths who are behaving in an anti-social manner.

Since the launch of Operation Lascar last month one arrest has been made, and on Friday 28 April officers seized 73 bottles and cans from underage youths in South Hill Park, Bracknell. Both actions prevented further anti-social behaviour and criminal activities.

Thames Valley Police ~ Bracknell