LETTERS are being issued to 20,000 parents in the North-East asking them to help tackle the problem of anti-social behaviour.

Northumbria Police is sending the letters to the homes of secondary school children in Sunderland asking their families to reinforce the message.

Beat officers are hold a series of visits to schools to discuss anti-social behaviour.

This is the next stage in Operation Gryphon - a long-term city-wide operation involving more than 100 police officers tackling underage drinking, youth disorder, vandalism and graffiti.

Chief Inspector Steve Hopkirk said: "We are contacting parents to seek their support in helping their children to behave responsibly.

"Parents have a major influence on the way children behave and we want them to reinforce at home the positive messages their children are learning at school.

"We hope to spark a discussion about the causes and effects of the behaviour of young people on their communities.

"By taking these issues into the classroom and using other methods, we hope to change the behaviour of the small minority who act in an anti-social manner.

"If this does not improve behaviour we can also take legal action, where necessary by seeking an Anti Social Behaviour Order (Asbo) or parenting order."