The issues caused by teenagers under 18 are a significant nuisance to families with young children. Groups of youngsters are being drawn to the McDonald's restaurant to use the free WiFi as well as the sockets to charge their phones. They buy a single drink between them or a small amount of food to legitimize their visit.

Some choose to hang around until they are asked to leave due to the nuisance they will sometimes cause or the unnecessary amount of table space they are occupying.

The police resources are stretched even further due to being called out to deal with abusive and aggressive youngsters or to escort youngsters out who refuse to leave. The police officers could be better used elsewhere dealing with actual and/or life-threatening emergencies.

This atmosphere is uninviting and unwelcoming to families as it pushes them away from the fun and family-friendly attitude that McDonald's is always promoting.

A take-away policy has already been put in place in a restaurant in Stoke-on-Trent and has proven effective at reducing anti-social behavior.

I have been in the restaurant myself with my young daughter and witnessed this for myself. My daughter burst out in tears cause she was so scared due to thinking they would hurt her or myself. The staff aren't paid enough to put up with the abuse and assaults from the young teenagers. Members of the public do say something to try and ease pressure from the staff, but this results in verbal abuse at members of the public.

This policy would ensure that the Stafford McDonald's could maintain the family-friendly attitude with less of the anti-social behavior and free up some much wasted police resources and time. As well as enable the police to be used for emergencies and life-threatening situations instead of babysitting anti-social under 18's.