Plea to parents following rise in ASB

We are reaching out to parents and guardians following a rise in anti-social behaviour (ASB) by children in Peterborough city centre.

In the last two months, there has been a significant increase in calls for service in relation to ASB, specifically relating to groups of youths at a new entertainment establishment within Queensgate shopping centre.

Inspector Lyndsay Mylchreest, from the Peterborough Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Since the opening of Puttstars, which is a welcome addition to the leisure facilities the city has to offer, it has attracted many young people who have been using the facility after school and at the weekends.

“The vast majority of those attending have not been causing any issues, however, a small minority are causing ASB such as vaping within the arcade, not listening to staff, being intimidating and abusive to other users of the facility and refusing to leave. There have also been several violent incidents including fights between large groups and assaults.

“We have increased patrols in the area at peak times and utilised powers to move people on where appropriate, however my plea is to parents and carers to make sure they know what their children are doing outside of school – a lot of time, effort and money has been put into making our city centre a better, more inviting place for people to visit, yet issues such as this recent ASB are impacting on the wider community.”

Pep Cipriano, Business Improvement Manager for Peterborough Positive – the city centre’s Business Improvement District – said: “One of our main priorities is to work with businesses and partners to create a safer and more welcoming city centre.

“We’ve already recruited a city centre ambassador to engage with businesses and stakeholders to help prevent incidents of anti-social behaviour and we are supportive of the police plea to parents and guardians to be better aware of what their children are doing when not at school.”

Information and advice about anti-social behaviour can be found on the force’s dedicated ASB information pages, along with the option to report any concerns.