Officers from Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Policing Team travelled undercover on buses in the area, leading to the arrest of a ten-year-old boy. He was arrested on suspicion of four counts of criminal damage and three counts of causing danger to road users. He was later referred to the Youth Offending Team.
Another boy aged 14 was also identified and dealt with for separate offences.
Middlesbrough Council, through its own antisocial behaviour process, has identified a further ten young people involved in nuisance behaviour, with home visits and diversionary activity referrals undertaken.
Those who fail to change their behaviour face the possibility of court appearances and civil injunctions for the protection of the wider community.
Further work is ongoing to identify those involved in the incidents, including further undercover operations and working with CCTV to identify those responsible.
Acting Inspector Des Horton, from Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This operation not only helps us to identify those involved in these incidents, but also allows us to build up intelligence and provide reassurance to the drivers of the buses that are being targeted.
“We continue to ask the public to report any offences, or pass on any information that they have regarding those responsible by calling us on 101.
“Any youngsters involved in this criminal activity can be assured that we are working to identify those involved alongside local schools and Middlesbrough Council, and we will be coming to your door. I’d also ask parents to be aware of where their children are and what they are up to as we continue to tackle these mindless acts of criminal damage.”
Councillor Ian Blades, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive member for Neighbourhoods, said: “Children not even in their teens shouldn’t be involved in any form of antisocial behaviour, let alone the sort of reckless acts that put lives at risk.
“We will continue to work closely with the Neighbourhood Police Team and other partners to identify those responsible, and put a stop to this on behalf of law-abiding members of the community.
“Above all I would appeal to parents – you are responsible for the behaviour of your children, and you owe it to them to prevent them embarking on a course of action that could all too easily blight the rest of their lives.”
