HIDDEN plain clothes police officers using hand-held video cameras captured a number of youths on camera as they attacked a York school.

The Evening Press can reveal that over the past month police have held an innovative operation at Oaklands School, in Acomb, in an attempt to halt a wave of vandalism.

Teachers went to the police after more than £5,500-worth of damage was caused in one month, including smashed windows and broken doors, leaving school buildings unsafe.

Among those caught on camera in the operation, thought to be the first of its kind in North Yorkshire, was a drunken teenager, seen kicking and punching a door at the school.

Other youths seen drinking alcohol, urinating in doorways, throwing stones at windows, driving mopeds and even breaking into the property, have been identified and interviewed by the police.

Beat officers have warned that extra police and private security patrols have been brought on to the site and more surveillance will take place over the summer.

Westfield community PC Claire Hudson, who organised the operation, said a number of youths were caught red-handed by police as they smashed windows at the geography block.

She said: "We identified vulnerable areas at the school and covered them with a number of officers using hand-held cameras on several evenings over the past month.

"We also had officers on patrol outside the school grounds who could be brought in as extra support if necessary and to make arrests."

Gavin Cowley, deputy head teacher, said the school was working hard to find ways of making the site more secure, but the size of the site and access to the sports facilities made this difficult.

He said: "We may have to consider enforcing trespass laws for those people who are not supposed to be here.

"But the vast majority of people who use our site do so without causing problems. Unfortunately a small minority are causing trouble here and in other parts of Acomb.

"It's a problem for the whole community."

PC Hudson said that long-term measures to reduce vandalism are being investigated, including building better fencing around the school grounds.

She said: "At the moment it is one of the only schools in York which is not secure within its own grounds and that needs to be changed because people can just walk in and out.

"The antisocial behaviour is not just affecting the school and leaving damage. It is affecting residents who live nearby too."

Updated: 08:28 Thursday, June 17, 2004