Police urge Newcastle youths not to treat city centre as 'playground'

School children have been told Newcastle city centre is not a "playground" and that they should to stop intimidating shoppers there.

Northumbria Police and the city's council have suggested that they should instead take advantage of free activities in their communities.

This call comes after the force issued a warning that youngsters face arrest if they keep gathering in large numbers around areas like Eldon Square, Grey's Monument and Northumberland Square.

This summer there have been reports that crowds of up to 100 children - some as young as 12 - gathering in these areas, where they have been drinking, intimidating shoppers and "getting involved in anti-social behaviour".

Dozens of children have had to be taken home to be spoken to in front of their parents.

He added that there was "no excuse" for bad behaviour and pointed out there were alternatives to gathering in the city centre.

The police have also issue a plea to parents.

Several events have been funded by Newcastle City Council, which has also encouraged families to make use of the free activities.

The councillor, who is the authority's cabinet member for Climate Change and Communities and chairs community group, echoed the police's message and said there was "no need" to be in the city and pointed out that gatherings with little or no social distancing present the risk of COVID-19 infection.

Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness has also funded activities through the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU).

She has also called on youngsters to take advantage of the activities available to them so they can avoid falling into trouble with the police.

Miss McGuinness also said she was committed to "regrowing" youth services in the area.

Information about all the diversionary programmes, and to register for Newcastle’s Summer of Change, click here.

Anyone who wants to report an incident, or anti-social behaviour, can do so by visiting the ‘Tell Us Something’ pages of the Northumbria Police website.

They can also call 101 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.