POLICE hope new powers will help them clamp down on youths taking drugs in a nature reserve.
Evidence of underage youngsters smoking cannabis and sniffing solvents has been uncovered in historic Stanney Woods.
Concerned residents have also witnessed youths swilling lager and vodka, smashing beer bottles, and setting fire to trees, sometimes in broad daylight.
Inspector Richard Rees of Ellesmere Port Police said: “We are aware of the problems in Stanney Woods. It has been a hot-spot for us since March or April last year.
“Hot-spots are a number of areas around the borough where there are problems and we ensure that every single day they receive attention from the local beat officers.
“The woods are a very difficult area to police because there are so many routes in and out.
“We do police it and try to use different actions to alleviate the problem, which does spread to the Stanney Estate and across the road into Whitby.”
Insp Rees added: “We now have some new powers to prevent specific individuals from entering a certain area for a short time. These can be used on people in the woods.
“The powers were granted in September or October last year as part of our anti-social behaviour work, and are now ready for use. They work just like a bail condition, banning someone from a certain area.”
Insp Rees said that over Christmas police patrolled the woods every day looking for trouble-makers.
He explained: “During that time, we seized numerous amounts of alcohol and issued Nuisance Youth Forms to people found in that area.
“We are continually looking to take positive action against individuals who keep cropping-up through our anti-social behaviour procedures, and try to bring a resolution to these problems. We have already done this to areas like Overpool Road and various town parks.”
A spokeswoman for the borough council said: “We are aware of the problem of anti-social behaviour and litter at Stanney Woods and are working with local police to address the issues.”
Historically, Stanney Woods was one of four Crown Forests of Cheshire. The surrounding land was farmed by the monks of Stanlaw Abbey.
