Neighbourhood officers take swift action to identify suspects in Guisborough youth crime and ASB.
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Guisborough’s neighbourhood officers are reassuring residents and business owners they’re taking swift and decisive action to deal with incidents of youth crime and ASB last Wednesday (23rd April).
Police received reports which included allegations of shoplifting as well as a minor assault on a store staff member at one of the shops.
We appreciate people will also be concerned at reports that a teenage boy was in possession of a small pocket knife while in a shop on Howlbeck Road just after 5.15pm, but we can confirm that it was not used against anyone.
Officers attended each incident report but unfortunately, despite conducting area searches and speaking with witnesses, they were unable to locate any suspects at that time.
However during extensive follow up enquiries by neighbourhood officers, an 18-year-old male was quickly identified as a suspect in the Howlbeck Road incident.
It was then discovered he was already in police custody in Stockton being questioned by colleagues from Stockton CID in connection with an alleged incident in that area.
Stockton CID charged the 18-year-old with assault and with breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) by entering Guisborough when prohibited from doing so.
The CBO had been secured some months ago (when he was a juvenile) by East Cleveland NPT.
He attended court on Saturday (26th April) from where he was further remanded into custody until late May. This shows the value of the comprehensive Criminal Behaviour Order obtained by local officers.
And another teenager has been identified and will be interviewed whilst enquiries continue to identify all those involved.
East Cleveland NPT Inspector Neil Deluce said: “Naturally reports like these are extremely worrying to the law-abiding majority of residents- as well as to our small business owners.
“I’d like to reassure them that in partnership with the local authority, we’ll continue do all we can to identify and deal with anyone suspected of being involved in ASB or crime.
“I’d also urge parents and carers to check where their children and young people are while they’re out of the house and what they are doing.
“Finally, if anyone has information to assist our ongoing enquiries into these reports from Wednesday , please contact Cleveland Police on the 101 number.
Please quote ref 07174 for alleged theft and production of a knife at McColl’s Store on Howlbeck Road at 5.15pm, and ref 071744 for the alleged assault of a member of staff and theft from the shop at Park Lane Stores at around 5.50pm.
“If you don’t want to speak to police, you can pass information anonymously to www.crimestoppers-uk.org or phone them on 0800 555 111.”