Police have blamed social networking sites, such as Facebook, for an increase in gangs of youths drinking on streets.
Over the last three weekends, officers from the Ystrad Mynach Neighbourhood Policing Team have been patrolling the town centre where large groups have been meeting.
Sgt Andrew Massaro said: “With the increasing use of social networking sites to inform each other of where groups of friends will be during the evening, we are now seeing large groups of children forming around the town centre which can be extremely intimidating for residents.
“On one evening, officers were dealing with over 90 youths, clearly in possession of alcohol and acting in an antisocial manner, causing alarm and distress to local residents, which is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
“We want to remind youths that we are taking a strong stance on antisocial behaviour in the are and there have already been a number of arrests for drink-related antisocial behaviour.”
In total officers have stopped more than 140 individuals and have written to parents.
PCSO Gareth Coombes said: “We are continuing to target antisocial behaviour in Ystrad Mynach in order to further improve the quality of life for local residents. We will continue our proactive patrols, particularly concentrating on areas that residents have highlighted are of most concern to them.”
Antisocial behaviour is a current PACT (Partners and Communities Together) priority for the Ystrad Mynach area.
Councillor Lyn Ackerman, cabinet member for the environment said: “By undertaking joint operations such as this, we are sending out the unified message that antisocial behaviour and underage drinking will not be tolerated in our area.
“Our team of Community Safety Wardens have worked tirelessly with colleagues at Gwent Police on this and numerous other occasions to both address antisocial behaviour and underage drinking.”
The next PACT meeting for the Ystrad Mynach ward will be held at Siloh Christian Centre, Oakfield Street on Tuesday January 18 2011 at 6pm.
If you are unable to make any of the above PACT meetings in your ward area you can always contact your neighbourhood policing teams on 01443 865 595 or email ystradmynach@gwent.pnn.police.uk
personally i feel that the community support officers want us to cause trouble thats why they follow us everywhere and moove us from everywhere, where do you expect us to go? stay in the house watching telly with our parents? you gotm no chance.. and not everyone drinks on the streeet and if they do most of them are 18 and over anyway. Just because theres massive groups of us doesnt mean that where causing antisocial behaviour.. if you can find somehwere for us to go thats great if not stop complaining.