SCHOOL pupils in Fordingbridge have received a police warning that they will be dealt with “firmly and robustly” if they are caught causing trouble late at night.

A letter issued to Burgate School pupils claimed it was “unacceptable” for children aged 16 or younger to be out on the streets after 11pm.

This stance has been criticised by the Children’s Rights Alliance for England (CRAE), who say it could damage relations between young people and the police.

But the move has been welcomed by the school and town council, who hope it will help curb antisocial behaviour in the area.

The letter was written by the town’s safer neighbourhood team and warned pupils that police would contact their parents and possibly social services if they were on the streets later than 11pm.

“If any young person is found in the town centre areas behaving in a rowdy and inconsiderate manner or causing criminal damage, police will arrest these individuals and deal with them firmly and robustly,” it added.

But a spokeswoman for the CRAE said a blanket policy like this was open to legal challenge and could breach children’s rights.

“Children and young people have the right to freedom of movement and freedom of association,” she said.

“Police should only interfere with this where there is a criminal activity or they believe a child is at risk of harm.”

A police spokesperson said teenagers who were out late at night but causing no problems had nothing to fear.

“Police will only deal with young people if their attention is drawn to them for the wrong reasons,” he said.

“Parental responsibility is important and parents should ensure that good disciplines are instilled into their children at a younger age to prevent this sort of unacceptable conduct as they get older.”