POLICE have issued a warning to teenagers to stay out of trouble as they celebrate the end of their GCSE exams today.

Officers across the region are preparing for a busy few weeks as they anticipate an increase in reports of youth disorder due to the end-of-exam festivities.

Shop owners have been reminded that it is illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under the age of 18 and parents have been encouraged to to make sure they know where their children are.

Youngsters have been encouraged to stay safe- avoiding the hazards of water and dense woodland in areas they might think of meeting at- and ensure they have their mobile phones fully charged in case of emergency.

Durham Police said beat teams, including Consett, and Durham County Council wardens will be on patrol tonight, doing alcohol and drug searches in areas identified as potential for having large gatherings. 

The Northern Echo:

Chief Superintendent Janice Hutton, Northumbria Police lead for anti-social behaviour at Northumbria Police, says officers will patrol hotspot areas that have previously seen pockets of disorder and has asked youths to enjoy their new post-exam freedom responsibly.

"We all know the sense of relief that can be felt when reaching the end of your exams, and I’d like to firstly congratulate all those who’ve sat their GCSEs and successfully reached the end of their school year,” said Chief Supt Hutton.

"Because of this, we do anticipate groups of young people hanging around together in public places over the coming weeks and that can often lead to complaints from the local community.

"The overwhelming majority of young people are a credit to themselves and their local area, and I hope those who have now finished their exams enjoy themselves and the excitement that end-of-term brings.

"However, a minority of individuals can be drawn into anti-social behaviour and associated crimes, and I’d like to reiterate that this type of behaviour simply won’t be tolerated.

"Plain-clothed and uniformed officers will be on patrol across the Force this weekend to deal with any incidents and offenders will face action. We will also be visiting local businesses to warn them about the consequences of selling alcohol to young people.

"We are eager for parents and carers to work with us heading into the summer months to make sure everyone stays safe and keeps out of trouble. Please make sure where your children are going to be, and any residents with concerns about anti-social behaviour in their area are asked to speak to an officer."

Anyone who wants to report anti-social behaviour can do so by calling 101 or reporting it online at the Northumbria Police website.