VANDALS and drunks causing late night problems in Lydney have had their day.
In the wake of last week's complaints of weekend incidents in the town, the police have doubled patrols – and they have already had success.
The new Inspector for the Forest South area, Keith Desbois, told the Review that if traders were under the impression the town was ruled by yobs then he wanted to change things for the better.
"I can understand the anger and frustration felt by traders like Tony Box and Gerald Nelmes on discovering their businesses have been attacked.
"Our immediate response will be to redouble police patrols on the weekend evenings when antisocial behaviour tends to flare up.We will deal very firmly with people who commit disorder or criminal damage by arresting them and putting them before the court," he said.
And the purge has already started.
Last weekend police were on foot patrol in the town and made an immediate impact.
•A quantity of alcohol was seized from underage drinkers.
•Licensed premises were visited to reinforce the message not to sell alcohol to juveniles.
•A youth was searched and arrested for possession of cannabis.
•Police moved on a group of youths playing football near shop windows.
•Officers defused a potential fight between two groups.
The foot patrols were backed up by regular mobile patrols and there were no incidents of criminal damage to shop windows.
Insp Desbois said he wanted to explore longer term solutions and would be seeking a meeting with the town council, district council, Chamber of Trade, youth workers, publicans and owners of late-night food outlets.
"I want to reassure people that Lydney is well policed and a safe place to live and work," he said.