INTIMIDATING and antisocial behaviour is not a problem in High Wycombe, according to town centre chiefs.

Shopping centre managers see no reason to introduce a "zero tolerance" style approach banning youths with hooded tops and baseball caps.

Shelly Ford, town centre manager, told the Free Press that she had received very few complaints from shoppers. Her assertion bucks the national trend.

She said: "It is not an issue in High Wycombe, and as far as I'm aware it never has been. If a problem were to arise in the future, I'm sure it will be monitored and addressed as needed."

The Bluewater centre in Kent set a precedent a fortnight ago by pushing ahead with an anti-hood policy. Management at the centre claimed hoods and caps prevented CCTV from identifying misbehaving teenagers. The move was applauded by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott who claimed hoods were part of an "intimidating" uniform.

But shop owners and shoppers have only reported a handful on incidents involving teenage tearaways in High Wycombe.

Bill Pollard, manager of the Chilterns Shopping Centre, said: "At this time we have not got a problem.

"You have to be a bit flexible with life. Just because it's a national problem does not mean we have a problem here."

Debbs Lancelott, manager of the Octagon, added: "Hoods and caps themselves are not a problem. It's groups of youths that hang about, some wearing caps or hoods, that can come across to some people as being intimidating.

"At the moment we're not looking at it but it is something I am going to monitor. If it became a trend in the shopping centre industry then I may have to have a rethink."

A police spokesman said they have had regular meetings with staff from the shopping centres and so far no one has raised any problems with people wearing hoodies in the town centre. No member of the town centre policing team has requested any person to remove their hood.