RESIDENTS descended on Fearnhead Community Centre for a neighbourhood watch meeting on Wednesday night.

More than 30 people turned up to join the campaign to make their area safer and try to shake off its bad image.

Graham Waring, police partnership team sergeant, was there to field questions from residents who were demanding to know how the police is dealing with anti-social behaviour in Fearnhead.

"It is extremely important that the information comes through to us," said Sgt Waring.

"Kids are getting wise to our patrols and they know where to hide alcohol," he said.

He was quick to point out, as were residents, that it is only a small minority of teenagers that are giving youth a bad name.

He asked people to call the police immediately if they saw gangs of teens congregating with alcohol or drugs.

"We need to get the beers off them early so that later on there is less chance of drunken violence," he said, adding that his team will call parents out to come and pick up their children if they find teenagers with alcohol.

"Most are embarrassed and helpful, but there have been occasions where officers have been verbally abused by parents who say the police have no right to call them.

"They have failed in their job as parents if their kids are out on Bennetts Rec getting drunk on cheap vodka, so we will call them," he said.

"The police can't just keep going round, taking alcohol and pouring it down the drain.

"We need to make parents responsible," he said.

"99.5 per cent of the people who live here are fantastic people who love their community."

He pleaded with people to call the police with any pieces of information. "It might just fill the gap in that search warrant to get someone to court," he said.

Residents' main concerns were the reputation of the area and the problems with under age drinking and drug use.

Community action meetings take place on Wednesday, at St Benedict's Social Centre, Longford, and on Thursday, at 7.30pm at the Padgate Community Centre, Insall Road.

l You can contact the police on the non emergency number 0845 458 0000, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.