Police in Avon and Somerset are being ridiculed for using placards in Bristol's Kingswood area written in Ali G-style text message terminology.

One says: 'Du ur olds knw whr U r o wot ur doin coz D bil wl tel em', which translates as 'Do your parents know where you are or what you are doing?

Because the police will tell them.' Another reads: 'D bil cum arnd hre n wl vzit ur olds if ur messin bout' - or 'The police patrol this area and will pay your parents a visit if they find you are misbehaving.'

The signs, intended to reduce crime, have been attacked for straining too hard.

Guy Bailey, a Jamaican community leader, said: 'It is wrong for the police to single out any one particular group, especially in a manner such as this. These signs should be written so everybody can understand them.'

Ian Anderson, executive director of the charity Avon Youth Association, added: 'The police seem to be falling over themselves to appear trendy when the simple truth is a sign written in plain English would get the message across just as well, if not better.' A police spokesman said: 'This was considered the best way to reach people.'

I wonder if crime rates in the area will go down?

Might do, they'll be too busy trying to work out what it says.

No that would only happen jon if they put it in english "u no wa i mean"

I fink so!