Police in Devon town warn nuisance teens 'we'll tell mum and dad'

They say some youngsters are causing absolute misery

Police in a small Devon town have told nuisance teenagers "cut it out" or they'll "tell your mum and dad". They say youths have been gathering in park and causing misery by boozing into the early hours, playing loud music and smashing up bottles.

Officers working in Kingsbridge say they have narrowed the problems down to small group of young people. Anti-social behaviour among youths has been described as a "long-standing issue" for the South Devon town.

The local police team has become so fed-up of anti-social behaviour that they have fired a lengthy warning to troublemakers. They say groups that gather in the Recreation Ground are "causing absolute misery" to local businesses and residents.

Kingsbridge Police have taken to their Facebook page to warn young people of the repercussions they could face if their behaviour continues. It comes just as it was announced that three local youngsters had been handed 18-month suspended sentences and were ordered to pay £330 each for punching and kicking a vulnerable man while their friends watched on and even filmed the incident. They were also ordered to carry out unpaid work.

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Aidan Gustar, aged 18 of Mashford Avenue, Dartmouth, Josh Perret, aged 19 of Saffron Park, Kingsbridge, and Jay Peck, aged 18 of Kingsbridge had been drinking beer at Kingsbridge bus station before launching the brutal attack.

Police say anyone under 18 caught drinking will have alcohol confiscated and their name and address taken so that their parents can be informed. For anyone over 18 supplying alcohol to under 18s or being drunk and disorderly in public, officers say "we'll have you for it".

In a warning, Kingsbridge Police said: "A long-standing issue we have is Anti-Social Behaviour, especially in the Recreation Ground. Basically it’s groups drinking alcohol into the early hours, making lots of noise, playing loud music, smashing bottles and then leaving their rubbish for someone else to sort. This is causing absolute misery to business owners and those that live nearby.

"Unfortunately, a select few of our younger residents are a part of this problem, and it would be really daft of us to say this is something new.

"I know you’re used to more light-hearted updates on this account, but this is a heads up to those causing the issues: enough. If we suspect you’re under 18, that alcohol you’ve managed to get will be taken off you, and we’ll be having your name and address off you so that parents can dish out a much more appropriate punishment than we can (yes, we’re going to tell your mum and dad).

"If you’re over 18 and causing these kinds of issues (including if you are buying alcohol for under 18s): similarly, cut it out: if we think you’re supplying booze to kids, we’ll have you for it; if you’re being drunk and disorderly in a public place, we’ll have you for that.

"Parents: if your kids aren’t with you this weekend, we ask you to really be sure on where they are & what they’re doing. A 2am door-knock from the Police presenting a drunk teenager to you isn’t what you want.

"To those of you that use the park responsibly: thank you, keep it up.

"If this is happening, call us. Tell us about it. You will not be criticised for calling 999 if it is serious. If you don’t feel you can, then tell us via online reporting or our email address kingsbridge@devonandcornwall.police.uk, reference is 50240184509. If we don’t know, we can’t help.

"To sound very corporate for a moment: we are working closely with partner agencies and the Council to make Kingsbridge a safer and happier place for everyone, and this post (amongst others to follow) is part of a strategy we have come up with together to do just that."