Police break up youths playing football

POLICE have been forced to break up a gang of up to 20 youths playing football after they broke into a locked pitch at a leisure centre.

Officers from Etwall, Hatton and Hilton Police safer neighbourhood team have now issued a warning to parents to ensure their children are following the rules and to know where they are.

The police team said they responded to reports of large groups of youths playing football at Etwall Leisure Centre on Sunday at around 1.05pm. The youths ran off when police arrived.

A spokesman for the team said: “Upon arrival, officers were horrified to find a group of around 15 to 20 young people playing football after forcibly making their way onto the locked football pitches.

“After being alerted to police presence, the gathering soon split up and made a hasty get away. We know the names of some involved and they will be dealt with accordingly.”

The spokesman then issued a message to parents, asking: “Do you know where your kids are? Do you know what they are getting up to?

“It is of the upmost importance that you ensure your children are following the rules and regulations for Covid. If a child breaches the rules then as their guardian, you will be held responsible for paying the fine. This may seem harsh but we need to ensure these rules are being followed so that one day in the not too distant future, we can lift the restrictions and start getting back to a state of normality.”

Anyone who knows any of those involved in the gathering are asked to call Derbyshire police on the nonemergency 101 number, quoting reference number 421-21/02/21.