A Summer-long crackdown on vandalism and anti-social behaviour around locks on the Great Ouse has begun.

The Environment Agency, Huntingdonshire District Council and the police have joined forces for the second year running in a bid to prevent locks being damaged and lives being put at risk by dangerous activities, including lock jumping.

Last year more than 30 youths were caught by the team and four prosecuted. In one incident 23 youths were spotted trying to smash gates at Godmanchester lock, and the Environment Agency prosecuted the ringleader, with warnings being given to the other youths by the police.

Huntingdonshire District Council’s mobile CCTV van – which has long range and infra-red cameras and can film in the dark – will be going into action. The van also has an automatic number plate recognition system.

Frank Cannon, CCTV manager at the district council, said: “We will be constantly monitoring the locks, bridges and other vandalism hotspots along the River Great Ouse throughout the summer.

“The van can see over very long distances and cannot always be clearly seen, so the best way to avoid being caught is not to mess about around these sites in the first place.”

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