As the school summer holidays begin, anti-social behaviour has flared up again in Barrs Court, with police issuing 19 dispersal notices last night to young people aged between 14 and 17.
Police will be making targeted patrols tonight and tomorrow after last night where young people were drinking alcohol at the play park until after 11pm and intimidating people by banging on the doors and windows.
The dispersal order – which gives officers powers to detain anyone who disobeys an instruction to leave or who returns to the area within a specified time period – will remain in place over the weekend.
And they are again asking parents to make sure they know where their children are, who they are with and what they are doing.
Inspector Lee Moore said: “Most young people simply want to spend time with their friends in public places such as parks and that is fine. However, children need to know how to avoid potentially risky situations and what is acceptable behaviour in our communities.
“We want everyone in our community to be able to enjoy the summer safely, but any behaviour which causes damage or leaves people feeling harassed, alarmed or distressed does have to be dealt with.
“Young people should know that drinking alcohol puts them at greater risk of accident and leaves them vulnerable to becoming victims of crime as well as more likely to act in a way they’ll regret later.
“Getting involved in nuisance behaviour could lead to further police action, while a prosecution for criminal behaviour – such as vandalism – could lead affect job prospects and even foreign travel in the future.”
