Youth cafe helps to cut disorder

Incidents of youth disorder have fallen in a Surrey village following the creation of a monthly cafe for young people, police have said.

The initiative began in East Horsley, near Guildford, after more than 130 episodes of anti-social behaviour were reported in the first half of 2005.

The first youth cafe was held in December at Horsley Youth Centre.

It offers pool games, television and pizza and Surrey Police hopes to run the event more regularly.

The cafe has been operating on the first Wednesday of the month.

Congregating youths

Pc Steve Hill said: "Interacting with young people in a relaxed, informal setting has really paid off."

Surrey Police worked with other local authorities to resolve problems associated with young people in East Horsley after reported incidents of anti-social behaviour "reached a record high" last year.

Pc Hill said a lack of things for them to do meant groups of youths were congregating outside shops and the railway station.

Arrests were made during a clampdown on the disorder, while police attempts to work with young people on finding things for them to do led to a 76% decrease in reported incidents over a six-month period.