A SPECIAL group is to be set up in Clevedon to look at ways of tackling issues with teenage tearaways in the town. Local police are

A SPECIAL group is to be set up in Clevedon to look at ways of tackling issues with teenage tearaways in the town.Local police are to pioneer the launch of the multi agency youth strategy group after similar successful initiatives were set up in Portishead and Clevedon.The group will be made up of representatives from local schools, youth organisations, the council, housing and social services and the local action team.It will work to draw up a special youth strategy for the town and look at introducing diversionary activities to keep rowdy teens off the streets.North Somerset Police Sector Inspector Steve Date said: "In Clevedon there is currently no multi agency group looking at the issues we encounter with young people in the town."Together I hope the group will work on drawing up a clear strategy for Clevedon on how we can deal with the young people."The aim of the group is to bring various organisations to work together in partnership to draw up a clear strategy for Clevedon on how we deal with the young people and what we can do to improve life for them in the town."So many times it is the case that youngsters say they have nothing to do, so one option is to look at launching diversionary activities."This has worked well in other areas including Portishead and Nailsea where the group has worked together to put on events and run special initiatives, which in turn keeps the young people off the streets."The launch of the group follows mounting concern about the bad behaviour of young people in the town.Police have stepped up patrols of the Salthouse Fields and other hotspots on Friday nights following reports of rowdy teens causing havoc until the early hours.Officers have also been targeting stores and off licences in the seaside resort to crack down on the sale of alcohol to under 18s.Insp Date added: "This problem cannot be the police's alone to tackle."It needs a joint approach from a number of organisations to really have an impact.