Police lambast 'lack of parental control'

PARENTS in a Cornish town have been accused of showing "a lack of parental concern and control" after a string of anti-social events, including what could have turned into a mass brawl involving 60 youths aged as young as 10.

Police in Bude have demanded that parents take more care and notice of their children's whereabouts following an increase in reports of disorder in recent weeks – including dangerous driving and drink-fuelled anti-social behaviour.

They say they are doing their best to keep order, but criticised local parents for not ensuring they know where their offspring are in the evening.

Pc Gary Watts, the Bude neighbourhood beat manager, said: "The ultimate responsibility is with the parents or guardians.

"We are dealing with these incidents and hope to work with our partner agencies to put in place some long-term solutions, but need parents and guardians to ask themselves the question: 'Where is my child?'

"You should be aware of where your children are and what they are doing. You have the ultimate responsibility to teach your child acceptable standards of behaviour.

"Bude is experiencing anti-social behaviour problems ranging from minor damage to potentially what could have been full-scale disorder."

He spoke following an incident last month when officers received a tip-off that around 60 teenagers were arranging to meet for a fight near Bude Light, close to the town's castle.

Police officers created a visible presence in the area and were there when up to 50 youngsters arrived for the fight. It was later established they had arranged a fight between two of their number, with the rest there to watch.

The two "fighters" were taken home to their parents, but Pc Watts added: "After the two youths were taken away we were still left with the potential for serious disorder.

"The ages of youths present that evening ranged from as young as 10. "

The blunt warning from police comes after problems in other parts of the Westcountry.

A curfew that kept children off the streets of Redruth, Cornwall, ran from June 27 until September 7, with hundreds of parents being asked to keep their children off the streets at night. It followed a spate of anti-social behaviour problems in the town.

Around 600 homes received letters about the curfew – part of an ongoing campaign to reduce anti-social behaviour – which asked parents in the Close Hill area to ensure their 16-year-olds were off the streets by 9pm and under-10s were home by 8pm.

Police said the final figures for the initiative, compared to the corresponding period last year, showed that incidents of youth-related anti-social behaviour in the curfew area was down from 24 to eight – a fall of 67 per cent.

Other incidents of anti-social behaviour, sometimes fuelled by alcohol, have been occurring around the Bude area. The police say youths of all ages are out causing minor damage, noise disorder and even dangerous driving.

Children as young as eight have been found out after 10pm, which officers say "not only shows a lack of parental concern and control, but leaves children open to becoming a victim of crime".

A meeting for the residents of the Broadclose estate will take place at the town's Budehaven School at 6.30pm today.

Local officers say the behaviour is mirrored across the area. And they have warned that they will take "positive action" against those found being anti-social in public.

"Your child's lack of respect for others could land them on the escalation process towards an asbo, with a criminal record or even with an eviction," Pc Watts said.