TWELVE young people have been arrested as part of an operation to crack down on anti-social behaviour. Operation Envy is the proactive arm of the Operation Enigma campaign which has been set up to target young people in Stevenage involved in anti-social

TWELVE young people have been arrested as part of an operation to crack down on anti-social behaviour.

Operation Envy is the proactive arm of the Operation Enigma campaign which has been set up to target young people in Stevenage involved in anti-social behaviour.

The first phase of Operation Envy took place on January 16 when four youths were arrested for harassment, criminal damage and graffiti at Oaks Cross shops.

All four were released on police bail and given a curfew and banned from entering the area surrounding the shops.

Since then a further eight youths have been arrested for similar offences which took place between March and December 2005. They too have been given curfews and an area ban.

All 12 youths have signed Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABC) with strict conditions and rules they must adhere to or face further punishment. Some of the eight arrests were made on Friday night.

Sgt Jim Moatt from the Stevenage community team said: "This operation sends out a clear message to people who insist on being involved in crime and anti-social behaviour that it will not be tolerated. The arrests also serve as a warning to young people who are thinking of committing crime in the future that we will find out who you are and you will be arrested and have strict conditions imposed against you including a curfew."

"Operation Envy also serves as a reminder to parents that they must take responsibility for the conduct of their children," added Sgt Moatt.

Community inspector for Stevenage Mark Furnival added: "This campaign is ongoing and we will be targeting other areas of Stevenage with similar operations over the coming months. A lot of research has been done by the eastern area's intelligence unit in conjunction with the community team around the activities of those young people who gather together and act anti-socially.