POLICE are set to report on a crackdown on crime, antisocial behaviour and underage drinking in a number of Selby villages.

Police, Selby District Council officers and parish councillors will meet with members of the public at a Joint Action Group (JAG) meeting at Church Fenton village hall to give information on recent Operation CLAW activities.

The operation runs from Thursday to Sunday nights, and uses high-visibility police patrols and has officers stationed outside pubs and bars to greet drinkers as they leave.

JAG meetings were introduced across Selby last October to enable communities to have a say on what they would like the police and other agencies to concentrate on in their area.

At the latest meeting for South Milford, 60 residents attended and highlighted the need to tackle antisocial behaviour and alcohol-related crime in and around Sherburn-in-Elmet and South Milford.

Tim Grogan, Selby District Council's licensing officer, who will be at Wednesday's meeting, said South Milford in particular had problems with underage drinking.

"There have been some allegations about underage drinking at a couple of premises in South Milford," he said.

"Myself and police and trading standards officers visited premises in South Milford, Sherburn and Tadcaster in December with two 15-year-olds and we had hits at one premises each in South Milford and Sherburn."

He said the village also suffered from revellers walking to the Old Thatch Inn, at South Milford, for late-night drinks after the Sherburn-in-Elmet pubs had closed - drinking on their way and causing a nuisance.

Mr Grogan said he would discuss the introduction of a no-alcohol zone in the village at the meeting.

He said: "The problem has quietened down, but it's usually during spring and summer when we get the problems, so we're looking to introduce the no-drinking zone now in preparation."

Insp David Pegg, of Selby Police, said: "It's encouraging that we're listening to our residents, and they have a say in how we police their district.

"People should continue raising immediate concerns with us, but if they have specific concerns about long-term issues, then they should raise them at the JAG meetings, and they will see more action on them."