Seven teenagers arrested in connection to youth-related anti-social behaviour series

On Wednesday 3 June, over 20 neighbourhood officers from Warrington Local Policing Unit came together to conduct a day of action following numerous reports from residents and retail staff within the town centre relating to instances of violent and hate-related crime, shoplifting, burglary and road traffic offences.

In response to the concerns raised by residents, officers identified a group of teenagers whom they believed were linked to the series of incidents.

With the suspects identified, the officers were then deployed across the town centre and successfully conducted a number of arrests, including:

• A 13-year-old boy was arrested for offences including racially aggravated public order, affray, criminal damage, section 39 assault and threats to commit criminal damage
• A 14-year-old boy from the Bewsey and Whitecross area was arrested for offences including racially aggravated public order, racially aggravated assault, shoplifting, criminal damage, affray, burglary, s39 assault and threats to commit criminal damage
• A 15-year-old boy from the Fairfield and Howley area was arrested for offences including shoplifting, criminal damage, and racially aggravated assault
• A second 15-year-old boy from the Fairfield and Howley area was arrested for offences including affray, criminal damage and intentionally causing danger to road users
• A third 15-year-old boy from the Fairfield and Howley area was arrested for offences including intentionally causing danger to road users, affray, theft, s39 assault, criminal damage, burglary, racially aggravated assault and shoplifting
• A 15-year-old boy from the Poulton-with-Fearnhead area was arrested for offences including burglary, affray, criminal damage and racially aggravated assault
• A 16-year-old boy from the Poplars and Hulme area was arrested for offences including burglary, affray and criminal damage.

The teenagers, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have all been released on conditional bail.

Following the operation, Warrington Police Sergeant Anna Bell, said:

“Today’s activity is the culmination of weeks of investigation into these offences, ensuring an appropriate response to concerns raised by the members of our Warrington town centre community.

“This operation also demonstrates our commitment to taking positive and robust action to deter young people from engaging in criminal behaviour and to protect those who live, work, and visit Warrington.

“I would also like to speak to the parents of the young people across Warrington and ask them to be aware of where their children are and what they are getting up to.

“It might appear that we are acting as the 'fun police', but despite their young ages, the teenagers we have arrested today are suspected of committing a number of serious crimes over a prolonged period – this is something that we cannot tolerate.

“Parents and guardians play a vital role in guiding their children’s behaviour. In England and Wales, the age of criminal responsibility is 10 years old, meaning young people can be held accountable for their actions, and families must take responsibility to help prevent involvement in criminal activity and support positive choices.

“We want to be clear: If you come to Warrington Town Centre to commit crime, you will feel the full force of the law - regardless of your age.”