More warning letters sent to parents on their kids' night-owl antics

The letter to Mum and Dad from the cops is the result of a police initiative launched two years ago in which youngsters under 17 who are found loitering in public places after 11pm by patrolling officers can be reported to their parents.

It raised a fuss at the time, with some people worrying that police were assuming parents' responsibilities, and that it might make teens overly mistrustful of the police. Two years after the scheme kicked off, the teenager is among a growing number of youngsters being flagged this way.

Last year, the police sent out about 1,200 warning letters to parents about their teens loitering late at night. This is double the 675 notes sent out in 2006 when the scheme was introduced.