Police coffee breaks with gangs

Police are handing out cups of coffee to gangs in Black Country parks drinking alcohol and causing a nuisance.

"Coffee in the dark" aims to cut anti-social behaviour as police community support officers "engage" with young people.

In Dudley North where the scheme has been tested, Insp Mark Sutton said it was a positive use of resources and was not simply about officers serving yobs hot drinks. He said: "It is about trying to engage with young people and not about officers serving youngsters tea and coffee.

"There are barriers to break down between police and young people.

"Coffee in the dark is also a way for us to find out who is hanging around and we can offer crime prevention advice about being drunk in a park.

"If it keeps youngsters from wandering the streets and in a safe environment then it is protecting them and stopping them from potentially causing nuisance elsewhere."

Originally the idea was started by Barnardo's based in Lye and the charity asked police to support it.

Insp Sutton said he had committed a couple of police community support officers to the scheme which involves other agencies.

A small marquee is set up in public spaces where teenagers gather to drink such as parks and Silver Jubilee Park in Coseley has been targetted.

The coffee is donated and is not paid for from police funds.

Insp Sutton added: "It is a way for officers to find out what concerns our youth have in the same way they might go to an old people's day centre, have a coffee with them and listen to their concerns.

"No-one would have anything negative to say about that.

"Young people will be in these places anyway so officers would have to attend.

"This way we can explain to them that their behaviour creates issues for other people."