Police crack down on gang of 40 anti-social youths
POLICE officers have been attacked, stop staff abused and homeless people targeted as a 40-strong gang of youths cause havoc in Accrington town centre.
Hyndburn Police said they are ‘experiencing a high volume of calls’ regarding anti-social youths in the town centre, bus station and viaduct retail park areas.
They said transport staff have also been abused and criminal damage incidents reported.
Investigations have been launched and officers are currently in the process of identifying the culprits.
They warned their parents will be informed and any offences will be ‘dealt with accordingly’.
Officers say there is ‘a mixture of boys and girls roughly 40 strong hanging around the town centre at any one time’.
They have issued a plea to parents to ‘be aware of where their children are’ and to ‘encourage them not to meet in large groups in the town centre’.
Patrols have been stepped up in the area as part of Operation Centurion.
This includes four officers on foot patrol for eight hours during the evening on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday every week.
In a statement, Hyndburn Police said: “Operation Centurion in Accrington. This is a Government-funded scheme to tackle anti-social behaviour in specific allocated areas highlighted through anti-social complaints.
“This will change with demand and currently the demand is located in the central part of Accrington.
“We have been experiencing a high volume of calls regarding youths causing problems in the town centre/bus station and viaduct retail park area of Accrington.
“These incidents have ranged from youths targeting homeless people, assaulting police officers, abusing retail staff, abusing transport staff and criminal damage. Investigations into some of these incidents are being dealt with accordingly.
“There is a mixture of boys and girls roughly 40 strong hanging around the town centre at any one time.
“We urge parents to be aware of where their children are and for parents to encourage them not to meet in large groups in the town centre.
“We are currently in the process of identifying the youths in question in an attempt to safeguard them and inform their parents.
“Op Centurion has four officers on foot patrol for 8 hours during the evening on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday every week.
“Our aim, to be a visible patrol, engaging with the public and targeting antisocial activity on our streets.
“Please say hello if you see us and we are happy to help if we can.”