Police call for end to anti-social behaviour

Parents have been urged to know where their children are during the festive period after police recorded a rise in anti-social behaviour.

Sgt Pam Robinson said the constabulary had seen a "big increase" in incidents of young people throwing items at cars, shops and people in the Isle of Man's capital.

She said the rise coincided with late night shopping in the capital when there were already more police patrols, but the incidents were "labour intensive" for officers.

Sgt Robinson said it caused "fear" in the community and urged parents to "take responsibility" for their children as there would be consequences if the behaviour continued.

PC Louise Kennaugh said it was a time of year that people should be "having fun" and enjoying themselves, but their behaviour should not reach "the point of committing criminal offences".

She said young people were taking inspiration from online videos, as well as being influenced by peer pressure, which encouraged them into causing the anti-social behaviour.

Areas that where it was particularly rife were lower Douglas, Strand Street as well as fast food shops., and had been coupled with an increase in graffiti in the city.

PC Kennaugh said, although officers often went into schools to to speak to teenagers about the potential consequences of anti-social behaviour.

She said the constabulary did not want to "criminalise" young people, but the situation was "getting out of hand" in some instances and "people may be hurt".

If the message was continually ignored there would be "consequences", she added.

Sgt Robinson said the behaviour created "fear and insecurity in the community", so the constabulary wanted to "send a clear message that we are dealing with it".

Urging parents to make sure they knew where their children were and what they were doing, she said they could call the force if they were in need of help dealing with anti-social behaviour.

"They can ask to speak to the Eastern Neighbourhood Policing Team, we're always happy to speak to parents and give advice," she said.

Why not follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X? You can also send story ideas to [email protected]