Mass city youth disorder prompts parenting plea
Carlisle Neighbourhood PoliceA gathering of more than 100 youths in a city centre prompted a plea from police who said most parents they contact about anti-social behaviour "are unaware of the disorder their children are causing".
Groups appeared around Carlisle on Saturday night where there were reports of stones and eggs being thrown, verbal abuse, intimidating behaviour, racially motivated harassment, fighting and drunken disorder.
One teenager was arrested for multiple offences and another five have been interviewed, with a further four interviews planned, Cumbria Police said.
In a message to families, the force said: "Parents, do you know where your children are, who they are associating with, what they are doing?"
Officers are viewing CCTV images showing scores of people gathered in the city centre where two dispersal orders were put in place at the weekend.
One camera captured what police estimated to be "nearly 60 youths" in an area where there were several reports of disorder and anti-social behaviour.
In a social media post, police in Carlisle said: "Nearly all the parents we speak to are unaware of the disorder their children are causing.
"Over the coming weeks officers will be identifying suspects on CCTV, capturing their images and contacting schools, so we can have a chat about their behaviour in front of parents."
