POLICE say gangs of teenagers are using the train network to organise street battles with rival yobs.
Inspector Phil Hodgson, of the Western Rural Neighbourhood Policing Unit, said: 'We believe young people from Runcorn are travelling to areas such as Frodsham and Helsby, with the intention of getting involved in anti-social behaviour and fights with local youths.
'It is unfair to point the finger of blame at youngsters from a particular area because we believe teenagers from the community and further afield are equally responsible for the problems.
'That's why we are working with the transport industry to target potential troublemakers on the trains in addition to running patrols with our colleagues from the Area Support Group and the council warden service to deal with the people giving cause for concern.'
A Runcorn teenager was arrested in Frodsham on Friday, February 17, as part of the co-ordinated crackdown on anti-social behaviour.
The 16-year-old was stopped in Main Street about 9.30pm and given a fixed penalty notice as part of the initiative involving Western Rural Community Action Team officers, the Force Area Support Group, British Transport Police, Arriva Trains and Vale Royal Borough Council Community Safety Wardens.
The initiative runs on a daily basis and officers are issuing stop forms to youngsters who display anti-social behaviour.
The forms are monitored by an anti-social behaviour co-ordinator and if a youth is issued with two or more stop forms, police may contact the person's parents or guardian with a view to signing them up for an Acceptable Behaviour Contract.
Police have also introduced an interception technique on trains whereby young people without tickets are asked to leave the train and alcohol is taken from under-age drinkers. nTHREE Runcorn teens were arrested after reports of a burglary at Sutton Hall Golf Club in Aston Lane, Sutton Weaver.
Two 16-year-olds and an 18-year-old were arrested near the scene.
A woman told police her husband was at the club about 7pm when the burglar alarm activated.
The three men have been released on police bail until April.
