Police in Shepway are spending extra time on patrol during the Easter holiday to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

The step-up is during the school holiday period.

Patrols have been spending extra time Hawkinge, Seabrook, Hythe and several parts of Folkestone. These have been Cheriton, the Canterbury Road area, town centre, the Leas and Lower Leas Coastal Park.

During the operation police have already confiscated alcohol from young people areas such as Radnor Park, Cheriton High Street and Hawkinge.

Alcohol and cannabis were seized when a group of youths were spoken to at a car wash in Cheriton High Street.

A 13-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of possessing cannabis in Stoddart Road in Cheriton.

Some skateboarders were also asked to leave The Leas on two separate occasions after local people complained of noise nuisance.

Sgt Greg Pochin said: “The Easter school holidays are a time when more people are out and about. That’s not a problem in itself but there is a potential for the consumption of alcohol and sometimes drugs to lead to crime, violence and anti-social behaviour.

“We’re finding that our high visibility presence is helping to deter the potential for problems and allows us to deal with anything that comes up.”

There is more advice on staying safe on the Kent Police website www.kent.police.uk.