Anti-social behaviour up in Feltham

And residents say the ban is not working, that gangs of youths still congregate, drink and cause trouble and, if anything, the problem has spread to a wider area.

John Kavanagh, who lives in Feltham High Street, has been abused and had eggs thrown at him and thinks trouble from teen gangs is increasing.

He said: "It's still happening in the park opposite [Feltham Green]. They are still drinking, they are having parties with drugs and drink day and night over there.

"There are often ten or 20 of them and if you dare to go near them they'll attack you. It's beyond a joke and it's getting worse and worse.

"The police don't seem to care about them - this drinking ban hasn't had any affect whatsoever. They just let them drink."

The 18% increase in anti-social behaviour in Hanworth Park, Feltham West and Feltham North in July, August and September compared with the same period in 2008 comes following the end of a curfew in the town centre that police declared a success.

Between October 2008 and March this year offences dropped 12% when officers were given powers to send home unsupervised under-16s out after 9pm and ban them from the town centre for 24 hours.

The dispersal zone, which only took in the area around the High Street, was replaced by a year-long drinking ban covering a wider area including most of Hanworth Park, Feltham and parts of Bedfont.

People caught drinking on the streets inside the controlled zone can have their alcohol confiscated and be fined up to £500 for persistent offending or alcohol-related anti-social behaviour.

When it was introduced Simon Williamson, whose Bedfont Lane home has been plagued by yobs, was one of many who warned the drinking ban was not a sufficient replacement to stop the gangs from gathering.

He said: "I hate to say I told you so but this summer's been terrible and with the warm weather continuing it has not let up one bit.

"You see them taunting the police with a can in their hand and making noise until all hours. It's got worse and this so-called drinking ban is doing nothing to help."