Police say they are dealing with children setting fires and causing havoc on dirt bikes as they try to keep a lid on antisocial behaviour plaguing a village. A police dispersal order was put in place covering Langley Mill, with the force also upping patrols in response multiple incidents reported recently.
The dispersal order also covered Heanor and it ran from 5pm on Thursday, April 21, to 5pm on Saturday, April 23. It allowed police to disperse people from both areas and, if they were involved in anti-social behaviour, take anyone under 16 back to their home.
Villagers of Langley Mill had reported that teenagers and children racing on motocross bikes was the biggest anti-social issue affecting Langley Mill, and Derbyshire Police have now shared details of a number of incidents which led to the dispersal order, Derbyshire Live reports. A spokesperson for the force said: "Reports of anti-social behaviour and disorder include nuisance motorbike riding and dangerous cycling, damage, small fires, egg throwing and graffiti."
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Residents of the Amber Valley village, on the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire border, said a lack of activities for children was a concern and that children there were bored with nothing to occupy their time. A local business owner said: "They have nothing to do in Langley Mill. The council should try spending some money to give these kids something to do, they're bored - there's nothing around here for them."
Derbyshire Police are also working alongside the Amber Valley Community Safety Partnership to help address concerns over the longer term - and nine young people have been issued with "anti-social behaviour contracts". The contracts are a tool used to help young people and their parents monitor and regulate behaviour and, should there be any breaches, officers can look to take further action.
One young person has been identified in relation to criminal offences and the offences are being considered for prosecution or another suitable outcome. Diversionary activities are also being discussed and considered for young people in the area with a number of partner agencies and local businesses.
Sergeant James Bowler, of the local safer neighbourhood policing team, said: “I would like to reassure residents and other members of the community in Heanor that we are listening to and taking concerns about anti-social and nuisance behaviour seriously. We are working hard alongside partnership agencies to not only take enforcement action whenever necessary, but also around things we can put in place to reduce issues in the longer term.”
Sgt Bowler added: “Not all young people will behave in an anti-social or irresponsible way, but I would urge parents to make sure they know where their youngsters are and what they are doing, and ensure they are home at an appropriate time in the evening. Please continue to report incidents to us so that we can target these issues and gather evidence where appropriate.”
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