Red cards for bad behaviour

Cards will be issued for urinating, swearing and throwing bottles

Yobs could face a football-style red or yellow card warning in a new scheme to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Surrey Police are introducing the card system in the county's 10 most disorderly town centres, with a main aim of cutting violent crime among men aged 18 to 24.

Anyone caught urinating in the street, using obscene language or throwing bottles could be issued with a yellow card.

Offenders will be told their behaviour is unacceptable and warned it could lead to a summons or arrest if they continue.

Our overall intention is to introduce a standard of behaviour which is acceptable to all residents Superintendent Sue Warren

The Surrey Street Standards Scheme was successfully piloted in Guildford and Staines town centres last year.

A total of 281 cards have been issued in Guildford since March this year.

The scheme will now be extended to Farnham, Camberley, Woking, Redhill, Epsom, Horley, Walton-on-Thames and Addlestone, where it will operate all day every day.

Superintendent Sue Warren, of Surrey Police, said: "Surrey is a safe county but it is important to deal effectively with anti-social behaviour to ensure people feel safe.

"Our overall intention is to introduce a standard of behaviour which is acceptable to all residents in the county."

She said the cards would be a useful tool for officers in the street and should prevent people re-offending in the short-term.

Any offender issued with a second, or red, card within six months will be summonsed to appear at court.

The scheme has already been running successfully in Liverpool for several months under the name "City Rules".