ASB and children

ASB and children

Hello all

Although this post is for the benefit of everyone to read, it is mainly directed at parents/guardians of children.

If your child is out and about in public and is not under your direct supervision or the supervision of another responsible adult and they get involved in anti-social behaviour (ASB) or criminality then you can be held accountable by the authorities so it is in your interests to know WHERE they are and WHAT they are doing.

I know that the majority of kids are well behaved so please don't take offence that I am directing this at all parents because I know that the vast majority of parents take full responsibility for their kids and ensure that they behave as one would expect when in public.

However, the minority let the side down at times for the rest of our law abiding and well behaved youths as I experienced on Sunday in the St Martin's Field/Fairfield Road area of New Romney whereby a report from a vigilant member of public had spotted a large group of teenagers on the field with at least three of them swapping catapults between them and firing them into trees and across the field. I located two that were matching the descriptions and on searching them found a catapult on one which I seized. I'm not able to go into any more detail as the investigation is still ongoing but what I will say is many of the others were behaving in a ‘pack mentality' and this has been noted and names added to our list of youths who think that they can walk the streets doing what they want to do with no regard for anyone else who is in the area going about their normal business.

The reason for the above paragraph is to send the message out to parents of children who act in an ASB manner and to those children if they read this that you will be stopped and searched if the criteria is met under stop and search powers and potentially arrested for any criminal offences, we will not tolerate it.

This goes for 365 days of the year but especially at the moment when it's half term and Halloween at the weekend.

Thank you

Steve.