Cracking down on Anti-Social Behaviour in Poulton
Lancaster City Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Team has joined forces with police and local parents to tackle recent incidents of anti-social behaviour caused by children in the Poulton area of Morecambe.
Following reports of a disturbance at Morrisons a number of weeks ago caused by youths throwing things around the store and which involved an assault on a young girl, the council’s newly formed ASB Team with help from the Neighbourhood Policing Team have tracked down the offenders and taken action to address their behaviour.
One of young culprits was found to be just 11 years old at the time and suspected of taking drink and drugs, whilst not being registered to attend any local school. The team are currently working with social services and a member of the child’s family to get to the root of the problem and address her needs and behaviour.
An ASB officer from the council and member of the Morecambe Neighbourhood Policing Team met with the rest of the girls and their parents to agree and commit to an acceptable behaviour agreement. This will prevent them from becoming repeat offenders of ASB, it having become apparent that some parents had no idea of the trouble that their children had got themselves into in the first place. A local secondary school has also been consulted and are supporting the agreed plan of action.
Coun Andrew Warriner, Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental health, said: “The aim of the council’s newly formed anti-social behaviour unit is to lead on prevention, early intervention and resolution work for all types of unwanted behaviour.
“Everyone has the right to live a peaceful life and the introduction of the council’s new unit will allow the council to do its bit to prevent local residents from ending up feeling harassed, alarmed and vulnerable by the unwanted behaviour of others around them.
“Anti-social behaviour comes in all shapes and sizes and can be caused by children and adults alike. Having received numerous complaints of anti-social behaviour being displayed by young people in the Poulton Ward, the team was able to tackle the problem swiftly and successfully in partnership with the parents concerned and other agencies to nip it in the bud.
“Parents of children who are making the lives of others a misery should also be warned that if they are found to be at fault and refuse to work with the council and other agencies to steer their children away from committing further offences, the council will not hesitate to use the legislation available to prosecute the parent as was the result of a similar case in the West End of Morecambe last year.”
If anti-social behaviour is taking place in your area or you feel you are the victim of such behaviour, you can report it to the council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team online at www.lancaster.gov.uk/asb, by sending an email to asb@lancaster.gov.uk or by telephoning 01524 582935.
Last updated: 08 February 2018