Drunk 12-year-olds ruining UK's 'best city' as parents drop them off with booze
Children as young as 12 are reportedly “ruining” a lovely park in one of Britain’s most beautiful cities - with parents allegedly dropping their children off “with a load of alcohol”.
Little Knavesmire in York, North Yorkshire has seen increasing numbers of young people drinking alcohol, setting off fireworks and taking drugs in the green spaces. The area is close to a racecourse, so for years it has also dealt with rowdy older race-goers.
However, some recent altercations between youngsters and local residents have sparked some anger in the area, with the local cricket ground and football club subject to anti-social behaviour. In May, Ovington Cricket Club shared pictures of their damaged cricket screens and the grass covered with broken alcohol bottles.
Labour and Cooperative MP Racheal Maskell said the council was doing its best to fix the problems but she was “shocked” by the response the previous authority had given her. She described Little Knavesmire as a “bar where there’s no toilet, no licensing, on public land where only children go, and the local authority turned its back”.
The cricket screens in Ovington Cricket Club were vandalised. (Ovington Cricket Club)
There are increasingly more incidences of anti-social behaviour in the area. (Ovington Cricket Club)She told the Daily Express: “What has emerged over the summers has been a gathering of young people on the Little Knavesmire, which has led to anti-social behaviour. The police tried to get engagement with much frustration with the local authority and they were not stepping up."
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“We are talking about children probably about the age of 12 or 13, their parents were dropping them off with a load of alcohol, you’ve got to ask questions. There were older people hanging around the site, so clearly there was known risk of exploitation around these young people, with some (older people) known to be providing alcohol and drugs.”
Ms Maskell explained the problem of young people “hanging out” moves around the city, because young people “always hang out”. She said: “They need to be able to do that safely and securely, and that wasn’t happening.” Ms Maskell added the proximity of older people around younger intoxicated people “clearly” made some younger people at risk of “sexual assault”.
Smashed glass is becoming an all-too-common feature of green spaces in Little Knavesmire. (Ovington Cricket Club)She continued: “Now we have a change of local authority, there is a much greater focus on a public health agenda, and as a result of that more facilities are being provided to protect youth work.
A local resident, who did not wish to be named, said the Little Knavesmire was still a lovely place to live but each government agency thought the anti-social behaviour was “another’s responsibility”. They said: “It’s always the residents that end up suffering. The police are really good when called for but obviously can only respond to actual crime, it’s the stuff that just falls short of actual crime that nobody deals with.”
The resident added that this year was “not too bad” compared to previous years but that this was a “coincidence” rather than “steps taken by any public bodies”.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “As this location is patrolled by the local Neighbourhood Policing Team we can respond to any incidents very quickly, and should residents have any concerns they are advised to make contact with us.”
The Mirror has reached out to North Yorkshire Police for further comment.
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