A YELLOW police van is to be used in Bidford to help in the fight against anti-social behaviour.

The increase in rowdiness is a growing concern for residents. Last week the Journal highlighted the problems of an elderly couple who say they were driven out of their home by noisy children at night.

The community policing team sergeant for Bidford, Stuart Wild, said: "We're parking the big bright van at peak times around the village to prevent this type of behaviour. The aim of the van is to gather evidence against children who create nuisance behaviour and stop it continuing."

The yellow van fitted with recording equipment is usually parked on the High Street or on the Big Meadow at most weekends.

The police's new patrol strategy hopes to make parents aware of their children's activities and to secure convictions.

Sgt Wild believes Bidford is no worse than any other area for such behaviour but thinks intervention from parents and the community can prevent it increasing.

Sgt Wild added: "Once we gain video evidence of a child carrying out an anti-social behaviour we invite the parents into the station and show them the tape of their child committing an offence. We work with parents and children, setting ground rules, which the offender must stick to in the form of an ABC contract."

The acceptable behaviour contract is a three-part plan used by the police to tackle anti-social behaviour.

The first part of the contract is signed by parents and the child stating the child will abide by rules set by the police. This is acknowledged by Stratford District Council and the police. If the offender breaks the rules a community beat officer intervenes to talk the issue over with the child.

The third part of the contract is used when the offender persists on carrying out anti-social behaviour. Evidence is then gathered to take the child to court with a view to securing an anti-social behaviour order.