Groups of yobs condemned after fighting and harassing residents in Tettenhall

Police have increased patrols in an attempt to put a stop to the anti-social behaviour, which also saw a private function at Tettenhall College cancelled.

Businesses around Tettenhall Green have spoken out about problems the groups have been causing, but also praised police for acting on it.

Over the weekend all of Tettenhall and Merry Hill policing teams were dispersed to tackle the problems on the green, with seven dispersal notices issued to stop groups gathering on Sunday alone.

And a private party at Tettenhall College with a number of school pupils was cancelled.

A spokesman for Tettenhall College said: "Officers were called to Tettenhall College to reports of a group of teenagers attempting to gain access to a private party.

"After being asked by security to leave the premises, the teenagers left.

"No arrests were made.

Workers in Peter Posh next to the green said they have “never seen anything like it”.

Rebekah Coombs said: “There’s been lots of youths on the green and a few fights.

“There’s a lot of older people who live around here who I think are afraid by the groups.

“I’m worried because it tends to be close to our windows.

“They’re standing around, playing music, smoking, saying something to passers-by.

“On Friday evening there was about 30 of them, I’ve worked here six years and I’ve never seen anything like it.

“Over the weekend there was a lot of police from when I opened up at 8.30am.

“We’ve been given a number to call the local police team if we have problems.”

Another worker, Rachael Kulyna, said the teens were about 15 or 16 years old and mostly boys but some girls too.

She added: “Tettenhall is a lovely place to go for afternoon teas, it’s just because the schools are closing, the weather is nice and the days are long.

“There’s lots of older people so they’d be unlikely to tell them off or say anything to the youths.”

A beauty therapist, who did not wish to be named, said she walked to the Tettenhall Pool car park on Friday evening after work and saw a group of youths “harassing a taxi driver”.

She said: “There was a group of about 15 harassing a taxi driver and they kept opening his doors and boot and taking his things out as he went to drive away.

“He had to stop and get out and gather his belongings but when he got back in the car they did it again, luckily not long after police drove past.

“It made me so angry. Lots of residents have seen them smoking and drinking.

“The police are patrolling the area a lot more which is nice.”

And Joanne Whitehouse, a worker at Hugs & Kisses, said she has seen youths smoking cannabis near the shop.

She added: “I only work here one or two days a week but some customers have been commenting on it. Last week there was some smoking cannabis outside.”

Sergeant Ron Price from Penn and Tettenhall Neighbourhood Team said: “Over the weekend, the team encountered groups of youths gathering in Tettenhall Green with some causing anti-social behaviour.

“On Saturday, we were granted powers under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 that enables us to direct anyone to leave that area whose behaviour is likely to cause alarm, harassment or distress.

“In total, seven dispersal notices were issued with no further incidents reported over the weekend.

“We do believe this was a one off, however anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated and action will be taken against those who behave in an unacceptable way.

“Anyone wanting to report anti-social behaviour can contact us via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight, call 101 anytime or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”