PARENTS could be shown videos of their children's anti- social behaviour as part of a crackdown being considered by police.

The idea for the scheme, which is in the early stages, would involve gangs of rowdy children being rounded up and taken to schools or community centres, where their parents would be shown how they spent their time outside the home. It would be a partnership between Cleveland Police and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

Their parents would then be told to collect their child and will be shown video evidence of his or her bad behaviour.

Councillor Dave McLuckie, lead member for community safety with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, believes the borough has problems "of epidemic proport- ions" with youngsters' behaviour. He says many parents do not know enough about where their children are and what they are doing.

"The point is that, across the borough, we have got huge amounts of problems perpetrated by young people, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights as a result of excessive drinking, and it is making life a misery for others," he said.

We will gather evidence that children are carrying out these activities and, once that is gathered, we will be looking to create a place of safety because we don't want to take young people to police stations.

"Then we will use a large force of officers to round these youngsters up and send for their parents.

"We will then bring the parents down, show them the evidence and ask them to sign a behavioural contract on behalf of themselves and the child so they take their responsibility seriously."

He said the scheme - thought to be the first of its kind in the country - will allow parents to see what their children are up to, and to discipline the youngsters, as well as giving them a brush with the police.

Chief Superintendent John Kelly, of Langbaurgh Police, said that persistent troublemakers needed reining in, but that there were issues with the scheme concerning human rights and legalities.