INCREASED police patrols will take place in Musselburgh throughout the summer after children as young as 13 were caught shoplifting from the town’s Tesco score and setting fire to items.
Officers will work with counterparts from East Lothian Council to tackle rising levels of anti-social behaviour in the town.
The two organisations are working together following a spate of incidents carried out by "a small number" of young people.
Youth-related anti-social behaviour is now the Community and Police Partnership’s (CAPP) sole priority, recognising the risk such incidents pose to those involved and the wider community.
CCTV cameras will also be used throughout the town and anyone caught committing anti-social acts will be dealt with by both organisations.
Chief Inspector Ben Leathes, Local Area Commander, said: “We work closely with East Lothian Council Community Protection teams and retailers to tackle anti-social behaviour across Musselburgh.
“Recently there has been an increase in antisocial behaviour involving young people, with one recent example seeing three male youths, two aged 13 and one aged 14, reported for youth offending following an incident of fire raising and shoplifting at a local supermarket on Tuesday, May 28.
“Musselburgh sees a proportionate number of these types of incidents, and we are acutely aware of the concern this causes to our local communities.
“Positive engagement with young people is key to reducing incidents.
"We work closely with our partners to assist with intervention to deter this type of behaviour.
“I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to parents or guardians to take an interest into where their children have been and who they have been with.
“If anyone has any concerns, they should call police on 101 or speak to any police officer.”
Kenneth Black, East Lothian Council’s community protection manager, urged people to report any incidents.
He said: “Recent weeks have shown an increase in the levels of youth-related antisocial behaviour in Musselburgh and we are working alongside partners to address the behaviour of a minority of young people from a number of different perspectives.
“I would ask anyone affected by any type of antisocial behaviour to report it at the time to the relevant authorities.”
Scott McKail, East Lothian Council’s connected communities manager for Musselburgh, highlighted work was going on in the background to tackle the problem.
He added: “Connected Communities is working closely with colleagues across the council, Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to understand how best to use early intervention work, including youth clubs and youth work outreach, to reduce antisocial behaviour in the Musselburgh area.”
Members of the public are being reminded to report all acts of antisocial behaviour to Police Scotland on 101 (999 in an emergency) and East Lothian Council on 01875 824 307.
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