WORRIED police are to act over an internet website which is being used by young people in Weymouth.

Officers are becoming increasingly concerned about the activities of some youngsters on the internet and are warning parents to monitor their children's use of the web.

Trouble is being stirred up by rival gangs leading to an outbreak of violence and vandalism.

There is also concern for vulnerable teenagers who are posting lewd pictures of themselves on the internet from the privacy of their own bedrooms.

Police will attempt to ban individuals from using the Bebo website because of their irresponsible behaviour.

Bebo is a social networking site' which allows users to share information including pictures and videos and communicate with friends and strangers.

Sergeant Tony Smith of Weymouth police's Safer Neighbourhood Team said while there were other similar websites, Bebo was very popular with local children.

He said: "I don't want to be alarmist but I think parents should wise up to this.

"This is a difficult issue because the internet is not policed so it is down to parents to find out what their children are doing on their computers.

"We are attempting to talk to the people behind the Bebo site in San Francisco, California, because I think members who abuse the site should be banned."

Sgt Smith said rival factions from different areas of Weymouth and Portland used the site to try and organise a major fight.

He said: "Thankfully that didn't happen despite all the talk.

"But kids are continuing to mock each other on the site and this has led to a number of disagreements and assaults. I have spoken to victims who admitted they bad-mouthed someone on Bebo.

"We are also seeing a rise in the amount of graffiti tags' or signatures around Weymouth by members of gangs which we believe is a result of the conversations that have been taking place on Bebo."

Sgt Smith added: "Members can create their own profiles to which they add photos.

"One parent discovered that her daughter had submitted a picture of herself lying on her bed in her night clothes.

"Some of these profiles are not protected and can be accessed by all sorts of people who surf the web for sinister reasons.

"I've also had reports of youngsters flashing their bodies when they talk to people on their web cams.

"I'd urge parents to ensure they know what sites their children are surfing and to seek further advice if they have any concerns."

Sgt Smith said worried parents can visit these websites for more information: www.iwf.org.uk; www.ceop.gov.uk; www.thinkuknow.co.uk; www.getnetwise.org No-one from Bebo was available to comment.

The site does have a dedicated page with a list of safety tips for young people and says that users must be aged over 13. There are also links for parents concerned about social networking.

A statement on the site says that Bebo is working in collaboration with the Child Exploitation & Online Protection Centre (CEOP), a new law enforcement agency.