IT'S a far cry from The Bill.

There are no squealing tyres, no flashing blue lights and to date very few arrests.

But Northwich police believe their way of tackling the town's troublesome teenagers is paying dividends.

"I certainly think we've achieved a lot," said Superintendent Ian Johns.

"We've brought public expectation back to a realistic level they know we can't be everywhere at once. We've built up a rapport with the people who are the source of these complaints. We have a better working relations with them.

"They know we will not tolerate the underage drinking and the abuse to people. They know they will be reported if there's a problem."

Police approach the problem with equal measures of authority and understanding.

Rather than arrest youngsters straight away, they take their names and addresses.

The details are passed on to the youth justice department who inform parents exactly what their kids have been getting up to.

And if the same names crop up again and again, the parents can be taken to court.

The police have been accused of adopting a 'softly, softly' approach. But if someone fails to give their name and address the result is quite clear: they will be locked up.

"The problem has reduced because of positive police action," added Supt Johns.

"There were a few arrests at first, but they have reduced dramatically because of the way we speak to the youths.

"We talk to them in the way we like to be talked to."

One of the main aims is to stop youths drinking in public places.

Our first stop was at the playground on Bradburns Lane in Hartford where a gang of youngsters were swigging down bottles of beer.

All but one were over 18. His friend admitted supplying drink to someone who was under age. His details and his beer were taken away.

"Some of the parents write back saying that they've grounded their children," said Alan France, the section officer leading the patrol.

"Others write to say 'my child would never do that'. Some people can't be told."

As well as play areas, the patrols tour wasteground and schools, which are becoming increasingly popular meeting-places, especially during the summer months.

From Bradburns Lane we drove to The Grange School, through Weaverham and back to Castle.

A 999 call diverted us to Barnton where a resident was worried about a group of youths hanging around outside their home.

The police were satisfied that all were over 18, but once again details were taken and the group was moved on.

It was, I was assured, a fairly typical Friday night, if a little on the quiet side.

High-visibility patrols, made up of volunteer special constables, normally go out over the weekend, checking 'hotspots' identified by the public. But if youths are causing problems at a particular site on another night, officers are sent there too.

"We decided that we were going to target the problems," said Supt Johns.

"Our research assistant pulls all the information off the computer and identifies the hotspots. We are aware of the problems in the outlying estates."

The single biggest problem with the operation is that too few officers have too big an area to cover.

At the briefing, the special constables, who normally carry out Nobel patrols, were told they would be visiting Lostock and Wincham.

But after responding to calls from the public, the patrol didn't have the time.

Supt Johns admits his officers have difficulty covering a large area, particularly at the moment, with three unsolved murders in the Vale Royal and Congleton Division.

But he says the overall success of Nobel Two has enabled police to alter its aims.

"The operation has moved on now," he said. "As well as doing well on the crime front, I now believe we are doing well on the quality of life front. People don't like to see youths sitting on walls and shouting abuse.

"But we're not picking on the youth and we are trying to reduce the problem.

"We're doing it for our public. We are trying to provide a good police service."

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