Reducing anti-social behaviour
You told us about your concerns regarding anti-social behaviour in the area.
Our local officers and the Child Centred Policing team have since been working with partner agencies to reduce the levels of anti-social behaviour.
Two groups of youths were identified as those responsible for incidents at the football club.
A group of young children were identified as climbing onto the roof.
Home visits were carried out by officers to speak to the youths with parents and caregivers present. During the visit officers provided an account of the children's behaviour and the consequences if it continues. This home visit was carried out as part of the 'It's Your Choice' early intervention initiative*. The children and adults had to sign a contract during the visit to agree to improving the child's behaviour.
An older group of children were also identified as responsible for incidents, including starting a fire in a hedge. Their unacceptable behaviour has caused damage to the site and the fire required the fire services attendance to extinguish it.
These youths have been banned from the football club site.
Books and DVD from the Telephone Kiosk lending library on Ulverston Road, Swarthmoor, were also scattered into the gardens of local residents and ornaments in gardens were damaged. This negative behaviour is unacceptable, it is not ok for the minority to impact on the community in this way.
Please speak to your children or the children in your care about the negative consequences of anti-social behaviour. If they get a criminal record they may not be able to travel abroad or get the job they want. Are these consequences worth it to them, just to entertain themselves for a short time.
We continue to work closely with the Football Club, and Pennington Parish Council who are responsible for the play area on Park Road to reduce anti-social behaviour in the area.
Further bans may be implemented including the play park, if the actions of those identified continues to negatively impact on younger children and local residents.
All such incidents of anti-social behaviour should be reported via www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it. You can also call 101. In an emergency always dial 999.
Multi agency patrols have been carried out this month with South Lakes Housing in the areas of Swarthmoor and Great Urswick giving residents the opportunity to flag up any community concerns.
*'It's Your Choice' provides young people, with the support of their parent or caregiver, the opportunity to correct their behaviour of lower level offending, before they receive a criminal record.
If the offending is low level, the young person is afforded up to three opportunities within six months to change their behaviour. If the offending continues, then the involvement of from the Child Centred Policing team and partner agencies is escalated. Young people involved in the It's Your Choice initiative are often able to positively change their behaviour and gain the understanding that their offending was not acceptable and had consequences.
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