Knife alert as youths gather in village
POLICE were called following a report that youngsters in Baxenden were carrying a ‘knife’.
Police were called out on Sunday afternoon, March 6, to Baxenden following reports of five boys standing outside a property.
Officers quickly attended and, following an extensive search of the area, no weapon was found.
Martin Astley, who was among those to report the incident in the area of Hollins Lane and
Royds Street, also warned fellow residents on social media.
He told the Observer: “It is shocking at how young these lads are.”
Photographs of the youths supplied by a local resident have been obscured for legal reasons.
One parent posted on the Hyndburn Chat page: “Thank you so much for sharing.
“My kids play up at the Rec and I’d have been straight over to pick them up.
“Luckily they’re not there today. Thank you x”
A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: “We were called around 4.20pm yesterday (Sunday, March 6) to a report of nuisance in Royds
Street, Accrington. It was reported five boys were stood outside an address, with one of the boys possibly holding a knife.
“Police attended the scene but the group had made off. Enquiries are ongoing.
“Lancashire Police has a zero tolerance approach to all forms of anti-social behaviour and we proactively work with partner agencies to address it.”
The latest blight of anti-social behaviour comes after police put in place dispersal orders in Accrington town centre on three separate weekends last month.
Baxenden councillor Terry Hurn said such incidents were “unacceptable”, and said the sooner new police recruits make their presence felt the better.
“I heard some news that we were getting extra police officers in
Hyndburn - which is a great relief for us because we desperately need them,” he said.
“I would hope that we get them on the streets the sooner the better.
“It’s going to take time to feel its presence, but I’m hoping the officers will make a difference.
“It’s not the sort of thing we would want to happen and it needs to be clamped down on as hard and fast as we can to stop it getting out of hand. It’s only a very small minority and we have to hope that the parents of these people will get to grips with them and curb their behaviour.
“It’s unacceptable.” Coun Hurn added that the “floodgates” seemed to have opened following the easing of lockdown restrictions, and “suddenly everybody is out and about and they’re ready to do what they do.”