Police in crackdown after vandal attacks
MERSEYSIDE police are to crack down on antisocial behaviour in Maghull after a spate of recent incidents.
Officers, along with anti-crime partners and local schools, are appealing for information after multiple problems in the area.
In the past few months, there have been reports of anti-social behaviour, mainly around the areas of the King George V Park and Maghull Town Hall in Hall Lane.
This has included damage to the Christmas tree outside Maghull Town Hall last week and damage to a bus.
Police were called after lights were ripped from the 12ft tree on Wednesday, December 6.
A police spokesman confirmed that officers attended reports that “youths were trying to pull the lights down” at about 7.30pm.
There was no serious damage to the tree itself and the offenders fled the scene before police arrived.
Local policing Insp Ian Jones said: “Although we are not seeing a significant rise in incidents of anti-social behaviour in Maghull, there has been recent damage caused in the area and I want to make it very clear that we will not tolerate any forms of anti-social behaviour and nuisance.
“My team is working closely alongside partners and all local schools to deter youths from becoming involved in this unacceptable behaviour.
“We know the vast majority of young people have respect for other people and their property but we know the behaviour causing annoyance and distress to the local community, and in some cases can be extremely dangerous.
“I want to make it clear that is not acceptable to throw objects at vehicles, commit criminal damage or abuse or intimidate people.
“My message is, think about what you are doing and how you may make other people feel. How would you feel if a member of your own family was frightened by incidents such as these?
“The support of parents, guardians and other responsible adults is vital. They can minimise the risk by not letting children hang around the streets with nowhere to go and know who they are with and what they are doing when they go out.
“Anyone involved in criminal behaviour could be arrested and receive a fine, a criminal record or even jail time.
“If your child is under 16 then you will be liable for payment of any fine.”
Anyone with information on anti-social behaviour is asked to call 101 to speak to local officers, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously and free, on 0800 555 111.