Teenage terror behind town’s yob problems
ONE of the main offenders “terrorising” Southport is a 13-year-old girl, police said. Inspector Graham Fisher revealed there are two main “ringleaders” in Southport who are leading groups causing trouble in the town centre and farther afield.
Inspector Fisher told a meeting of Southport Area Committee that antisocial behaviour in the town is a police priority, and that the number of antisocial incidents had fallen. But he said police were aware of a problem with anti-social behaviour in the town.
It comes after a string of incidents involving young people, culminating in a dispersal zone being put in place in the town centre last week.
It gave police the power to order suspected troublemakers to leave the area.
Inspector Fisher said: “We are very much aware of the anti-social behaviour going on. We’re hearing from residents who are feeling intimidated by groups congregating and we take what you say on board.
“In reality, there are probably only about five to ten people causing problems, but it seems like so much more. Especially when you see young people wearing hoodies, it can be easy to assume they’re all in the gang.”
Inspector Fisher also said that youths causing problems in Southport weren’t necessarily from the town.
He added: “Young people are coming in from places like south Liverpool, Skelmersdale and Bickerstaffe.
“The problem we have is that, when we move them on, for example from the town centre, they cause trouble elsewhere.”
The meeting was told the two ringleaders have been charged with criminal damage, totalling around £5,000, and assault, with a further six charges each to follow.
Inspector Fisher said the two youths have been “considerably more compliant” since spending some time in cells.