TWELVE children have been handed warning letters from police following problems with antisocial behaviour on Oxford’s largest estate.

Police said they had received 15 complaints over the past four months from Blackbird Leys residents angry about noise and intimidation from youths.

Now officers have sent out letters to 12 sets of parents warning the 11 to 13-year-olds to curb their behaviour or face further action.

Nine of the letters related to problems in Balfour Road, Blackbird Leys.

One 10-year-old boy has also signed an Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC) promising to stay out of trouble.

The other three letters relate to problems in Dunnock Way.

Blackbird Leys neighbourhood sergeant Rob Axe said the problems in Balfour Road had started after the introduction of CCTV cameras in December 2009.

The £26,000 cameras were installed by Oxford City Council in Blackbird Leys Road and outside the Spar shop in Dunnock Way.

He said: “When the cameras arrived, they had the desired effect. Now Balfour Road seems to be the place where they congregate. It’s well lit so they hang around in the general area of the shops and people feel intimidated. It’s been a problem.”

Sgt Axe said the biggest impact on the road was the noise and intimidation felt by residents. Letters were sent out in December and January.

He said: “Normally the parents thank us very much for bringing it to their attention and say they won’t see their son or daughter causing problems again. That’s the response we love.

“On the flip side some parents don’t believe us and say we are picking on their children.”

According to the crime maps on police.uk, 79 reports of antisocial behaviour were logged by police on the estate in December.

The warning letter is the first step for police to combat antisocial behaviour, followed by an ABC and finally an antisocial behaviour order (Asbo) or Asbos made on conviction of a crime, known as a crasbo.

Cherry O’Connell, manager of Martin’s Newsagent in Balfour Road, said: “I’ve banned a few from the shop for nicking things. Sometimes we get a lot of elderly customers in here, and especially in the morning when all the kids are on their way to school they feel a bit frightened.”

Father Naz, of Sacred Heart Church in Balfour Road, said he could recall a handful of incidents when teenagers had disturbed church services.

He said: “It’s an irritation, nothing more. They are not malicious.”