POLICE are taking action over the ongoing “vile” behaviour of teenagers in Newent who have racially abused shop staff and assaulted members of the public on their way home from school.

Officers say they are aware of issues of high school students “causing problems” to businesses and shoppers in the town at the end of the school day.

A number of people have reported a variety of anti-social behaviour issues from “a small number” of pupils who walk into the town centre to catch buses home.

The reported behaviour has included racially abusing shop staff, verbally abusing and assaulting members of the public and potentially causing road traffic accidents by acting unsafely on the road.

Officers say they are working with the school, the council and businesses to put in place measures to prevent the on-going issues.

This includes putting extra officers on patrol at the end of the school day, banning students from certain premises and putting in place a dispersal order.

Sergeant Alex Kear said: “There have been numerous incidents over the last few weeks involving a small number of teenagers who have been causing problems in Newent at the end of the school day.

“Their behaviour has been nothing short of vile and it is causing deep concerns for many of the residents and businesses in the town.

“We are taking positive action in order to put a stop to this behaviour from the few teenagers who are giving others at the school a bad name.

“We’re aware that a number of these incidents are being reported by the public to the school, but would urge anyone who witnesses or is the victim of this behaviour to contact us directly as well so we can take the appropriate action.”

A spokesperson for Newent Community School said they were aware of the issues but declined to comment further.

Anyone who witnesses any anti-social behaviour is asked to report it to Gloucestershire Constabulary through its website at www.gloucestershire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime, or call 999 if the incident is on-going at the time of calling.