Police have been slammed for sending a "ridiculous" letter to residents warning that children could face legal action for playing football in the street.
Cops trying to clamp down on anti-social behaviour sent the letter out in Warndon Villages, Worcester, saying ball games in the street will not be tolerated.
Locals have criticised the "aggressive" tone of the warning which they say is targeting kids under 10 as they are the only ones who play football outdoors.
And one father, who asked not to be named, believes the police action comes following just a single complaint from one couple.
He says he always encourages his young children to play outdoors to avoid the negative impact of being glued glued to their phones, tablets and consoles.
The dad added: "We live around the corner from a cul-de-sac full of loads of children who regularly play outside. It's both lovely and quite rare to see now.
"We've always encouraged our children to play outside, like we used to, and take all the health, social and mental benefits that come with it.
"Children are growing up not to consider the police there to protect them, but keeping an eye ready to punish them.
"But the actions of shouting at children or calling police when you see them is causing them to further pull back from any community feeling themselves, and I think that's harmful to everybody."
Another dad, who also wished to remain anonymous, added: "It's completely ridiculous.
"Why can't they let kids be kids anymore? Whatever happened for jumpers for goalposts? It's better than them being cooped up in their bedrooms surely.
"There's footballers like Phil Foden who said playing street football made them the players they are. Let them play, these are just children.
"You just don't see kids playing out anymore and now there's somewhere this is happening, police want to put a stop to it and send them back indoors.
"It's just madness and a sad reflection of the times we live in. I, for one, won't be reporting children playing ball games in the street to police. I'll say good on them."
The letters from West Mercia Police were sent out to residents over claims of antisocial behaviour by young people playing ball games and also riding e-scooters.
The police letter says: "As you will understand anti-social behaviour cannot be accepted.
"The community has made this quite clear and the Government has responded with powerful legislation which has dramatic effects on the individual offenders."
The letter continues: "This behaviour has taken the form of ball games in the street, the use of E-Scooters, which are not road legal apart from designated trial areas which Worcester is not and children in the road causing cars to swerve to avoid an accident."
A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said in response: "The letter refers to specific concerns raised by residents of Dockeray Avenue in Warndon Villages, these related to numerous reports of anti-social behaviour by a group of unnamed local young people.
"It aimed to bring to the attention of parents the complaints that had been raised so that they could discuss with their children the safety implications of playing in the road and how particular behaviours could be seen as distressing to other residents.
"We continue to work with the local community on issues that are important to them.
"We have recently heard from some who had initially expressed concerns and they confirm that the original anti-social behaviour has since ceased.
"We invite the community to speak to us about concerns they have; they can do this via the normal police reporting channels as well as at our regular Police And Community Together meetings."
Tory councillor Andy Roberts, who represents Warndon, said: “The last thing police want to do is offend people. It seems like a bit of a mix-up in the messages there.
"I know from speaking to the youth team and from the local policing team – that’s not their normal approach.
"Their normal approach is, where they can, to find a solution. Certainly they don’t want to criminalise young people."
