GWENT's top police officer has warned parents of anti-social youths - you will be "brought to book".

Marking the start of a new get-tough approach to anti-social behaviour, Chief Constable Mike Tonge said parents of the hard core of trouble-makers would be targeted.

He told a meeting of Gwent police authority: "There is a small hard-core we have got to tackle and bring their parents to book and we are likely to win."

Among a raft of measures, the moves could see police taking anti-social youths home to discuss their behaviour with their parents; parents being shown CCTV footage of their children's bad behaviour and perpetrators of crime having to meet their victims.

"These problems have to be locally negotiated," said Mr Tonge who conceded that there is no easy solution to anti-social behaviour.

His comments came after Torfaen Councillor Ivor Davies raised, as the Argus revealed earlier this week, that people in Pontnewynydd are being terrified by gangs who are making their life hell.

Meanwhile, in Newport, police have written to parents of pupils at three of the city's comprehensive schools to highlight the appalling behaviour being carried out by gangs of teenagers.

Police Constable Sally Jackson, crime and disorder reduction officer at Maindee station, has written to every parent or guardian of year-10 and 11 pupils at St Julian's, Lliswerry and Hartridge High Schools detailing a catalogue of harassment and intimidation by gangs of up to 50 teenagers in several areas of the city.

PC Jackson wrote: "There have been incidents of organised fights between the schools and an occasion where an intoxicated young girl was almost sexually assaulted.

"Known local criminals and drug dealers often congregate with these groups.

"Police have taken numerous drunken teenagers home and often parents have been totally unaware of the issues being described.

"I am keen for you to support us by ensuring you know of your child's whereabouts.

"It would greatly aid us if they could be discouraged from congregating in large gangs and could be warned about the consequences of alcohol abuse and not allowed to purchase alcohol."

The main problem areas are Beechwood Park, the Velodrome, St Julian's High School, Woodland Park and Pontfaen shops. Incidents include:

Harassment and intimidation of residents and passers-by Physical assaults and criminal damage Verbal abuse and foul language Loud and aggressive behaviour, particularly around shopping areas Urinating on the streets and in gardens.

Chief Superintendent Kevin Price said the roots of anti-social behaviour were often "complex" and sometimes attributable to social deprivation. l Police plan surgeries for youths: page 15