POLICE believe prevention, rather than reaction, is the ideal cure for the anti-social behaviour problems taking place in Upton at weekends.

Malvern police inspector Clive Griffiths addressed a public meeting of the Malvern Hills District Community Policing Matters Group in the Baptist Church Hall last night (Wednesday evening June 3).

He again called for the introduction of a Designated Public Place Order (DPPO), giving officers the power to seize alcohol.

“If you can stop young people getting drunk in the first place by taking their alcohol off them then they are not going to be there causing problems at one or two o’ clock in the morning,” he said.

Insp Griffiths also believes the fact that Upton has “next to nothing” for young people is helping to fuel the problems, which intensified two Fridays ago when about 70 youths gathered around the Old Churchyard.

He would like to see the town’s new youth club open on extra nights, the long-awaited skate park project completed, the introduction of an internet cafe and the general provision of more activities for young people.

Insp Griffiths assured the meeting that immediate action was being taken to counter the anti-social behaviour problems in Upton.

Over the last seven days uniformed visits have taken place to pubs and other licensed premises and discussions have been held with local schools.

There will also be a higher police presence in Upton on Friday and Saturday evenings, and the South Worcestershire anti-social behaviour detached team will be in the town this weekend.

“Some fairly concentrated action has been taken in the last week and that will continue,” said Insp Griffiths.