Nottingham Police Target 24 Children in City Centre Crime Crackdown, Parents Face Eviction
Nottinghamshire Police have initiated 'Operation View', a comprehensive effort to address persistent youth crime and anti-social behaviour in the city centre. The operation has identified 24 children, some as young as 10, for their involvement in offences including shoplifting, drug and weapon possession, and trespassing to hurl projectiles from abandoned buildings.
Sgt Cai Kemish, overseeing Operation View, stated that some young offenders view arrests as a 'badge of honour', often posting about their detentions on social media. Kemish highlighted the severity of some incidents, noting individuals carrying machetes and knives. Officers are utilising dispersal notices to ban identified troublemakers from the city centre for 48-hour periods.
Parental Accountability and Enforcement
The operation extends to holding parents accountable for their children’s conduct. Families whose children are apprehended receive police visits, with officers explaining the consequences of repeat offending. While some parents express dismay and implement their own sanctions, such as confiscating electronics, others are described as 'less bothered'.
For those uncooperative families, authorities are now threatening Community Protection Notices (CPNs). Breaching a CPN is a criminal offence that can result in substantial court fines and, in extreme cases, the loss of a tenancy. Nottinghamshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Gary Godden, acknowledged that eviction is the 'most extreme' sanction, emphasising an initial approach of dialogue and support before resorting to punitive measures.
During a recent patrol, officers apprehended a 12-year-old boy already subject to a city centre ban and out on bail, confiscating vapes and a balaclava. PC Josh Dowdy noted this individual had been dealt with 'over 15 to 20 times' since February, highlighting the ongoing challenge faced by local law enforcement.
