YOUTHS causing trouble in a village face being caught on camera.

Police officers patrolling Tiptree are to be trained up on CCTV in an effort to catch the troublemakers.

Currently, just one officer is trained on the CCTV system, but all six police patrolling Tiptree are being trained to help identify the offenders.

It’s part of a zero tolerance apprach to antisocial behaviour in the village.

Sergeant Cat Barrie, from Tiptree police, said: “Quite often at night, you can’t get a face on CCTV, but the local officers know the youngsters in the village, and often can recognise someone simply by their clothes, their build or the way they walk.

“If they can’t, then the officers will liaise with the school and other groups to help them identify people.”

Youths from the village and surrounding areas gather in the centre on Friday and Saturday nights, and are believed to be responsible for vandalism, criminal damage and nuisance behaviour.

Tiptree is patrolled by neighbourhood specialist officer PC Mark Dunden, two other PCs and two PCSOs. A third PCSO patrols the rural areas of the village.

Sergeant Barrie added: “We want all the community to enjoy themselves and make the most of the village, which is lovely.

“However, the youths have to be aware of the consequences of their actions. While they think it might be funny to tear up plant pots and throw stones at walls, it is antisocial and will not be tolerated.

“I will take a zero tolerance attitude to problems in the village. I am sympathetic to their needs, however they need to be aware their actions will have consequences.

“If we identify the youths, we will be taking action against them.

“This will come in the form of arrests, antisocial behaviour contracts, fixed penalty notices and – in the case of minor incidents – words of advice to both the youth and their parents.

“People are entitled to a quality of life; it is just about having a bit of respect for everyone.”