Operation Guardian is an operation that the Warwick District have launched to tackle youth crime and disorder in the area. The operational focuses on Friday and Saturday nights when youth crime is often at its most prevalent.

Each Friday and Saturday night Officers are specifically tasked with patrolling the area and locating groups of youths who are causing problems. The youths are stopped and spoken to and their details are recorded. Any alcohol in the possession of under aged youths is seized by the officers. Youths who are drunk or out late at night will be taken home.

If a youth is stopped in this way, a letter will be sent to the parents advising them of their child's behaviour. If youth's are stopped on a regular basis, Officers will be arranging joint visits to parents along with Warwick District Council's antisocial behaviour officer. The purpose of the visit is to sit down with the youth and the parents to establish why the youth is behaving anti-socially. We also explain the consequences of repeated antisocial behaviour.

Warwick, along with most towns, occasionally suffers from criminal damage caused by drunken youths late at night. It is hoped that by locating the youths earlier in the night, and removing any alcohol, some of these incidents can be prevented.

We also find that sometimes parents believe their child is staying at a friends house, when in actual fact they are out roaming the streets. By sending letters to parents we hope to make them aware of what their children are really up to.

It goes without saying that any offences that we come across, such as drugs, damage or public order, are dealt with robustly, and officers will use their powers of arrest where they exist.