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Youth causing trouble at Lymington Quay was caught ‘red-handed’ by New Milton Neighbourhood Policing Team Sgt Arron Wood




A YOUTH causing trouble with a gang at Lymington Quay was caught “red-handed” by police after they were alerted by a council CCTV operator.

Talking to a public meeting held in the town council’s chamber, Sgt Arron Wood told how police had “targeted” the quay after reports youngsters were running amok.

As previously reported by the A&T, yacht owners using Lymington marina last summer were subjected to abuse, and one family had rocks thrown at their boats by the teens, with one threatening to kill them.

Lymington Quay was targeted by youths
Lymington Quay was targeted by youths

Another youngster brandished what appeared to be a firearm.

At the meeting this week, Lymington harbour master Ryan Willegers reported that the trouble appeared to stop after police took action, but he was worried about the coming year if it started again.

He said that “after word got out” about the problems at the quay, Lymington had “lost waterborne tourism” last summer.

Sgt Wood responded that the quay had been targeted by police to get rid of the problem teens, revealing how one group of troublemakers had been caught after the CCTV operator alerted police that they were in the area causing trouble.

He said that as he and officers arrived: “One was climbing down from the roof, so we dealt with him for that. We caught him red handed.”

Sgt Arron Wood caught troublemaker red-handed
Sgt Arron Wood caught troublemaker red-handed

Sgt Wood said he had subsequently used dispersal powers which meant the youths had to leave the scene and were not allowed to return for 48 hours. He also said that officers had “taken several kids home”, adding “they loved that”.

He said the dispersal powers had worked well: “We managed to get the kids gone. They know if they come back, they will get arrested. They know we have the powers, and we will jump on them. We knew who they were and if they stepped out of line, we treated them robustly.”

Sgt Wood told Mr Willegers that if there were more problems, he should report them immediately, adding: “We will do whatever we can do.”

Harbour Master Ryan Willegers
Harbour Master Ryan Willegers

Speaking about youngsters in the town, he said: “The majority of kids are fine, there is a certain group of about eight to nine who were causing problems. Boredom breeds crime.”

He said there was a drug problem with certain youngsters in the area, adding: “Lots of kids are very vulnerable.”

Sgt Wood said he had gone to schools to speak to teens about crime but added: “Some kids don’t like authority and have no respect for it. The only way for people to help themselves is when they say ‘don’t like this anymore’.”

He said some youngsters in the New Forest area had become involved in county lines drug gangs, adding: “They’re playing grown-up games and start getting threatened with knives. Kids think they are indestructible, but I say to them, if you are playing a video game and you lose and die, you can’t play it again.

“If you get stabbed, you die – that’s game over.”



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