Darlington Police have issued a warning after a "large group" of youngsters climbed onto rooftops in the town centre and threw stones at members of the public. Officers responded to a 999 call about a sizeable gathering of children and young people in the town centre.
Incident on High Row
The force confirmed the incident occurred on the first day of the school holidays. The group accessed the rooftops of buildings along High Row, directing abuse at passers-by while throwing stones and other objects from height.
A statement from the force said: "This behaviour was not only reckless and intimidating, it was extremely dangerous and could have resulted in a serious injury. Let us be absolutely clear, throwing objects from rooftops places members of the public at significant risk and puts the children involved in danger themselves."
Second Report in Two Days
Officers had received a comparable report the previous day, Sunday, October 25, in which young people were pelting stones down at pedestrians on High Row, according to Teesside Live.
The police statement added: "Such behaviour is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. We will continue to identify those responsible and take appropriate action against anyone involved."
Parents Reminded of Responsibility
Parents and carers are reminded that they are responsible for knowing where their children are and what they are doing. The statement said: "If your child is found engaging in this behaviour in the town centre, you can expect a telephone call from police requesting that you collect them from the police station."
It added that school holidays are not an excuse for criminal, anti-social or dangerous behaviour, and noted that Darlington offers a wide range of positive opportunities for young people, including parks, youth groups, leisure facilities, sporting activities, and the cinema. The statement concluded: "We are urging parents and carers to speak with their children about the consequences of their actions!"
