Police break up several crowds of more than 100 young people in recreation grounds across Fareham borough

Police have been called to gatherings of more than 100 young people at two recreation grounds last night.
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Fareham Neighbourhood Policing Team reported on Facebook that officers had dispersed the large crowds at Cams Alders Recreation Ground, in Palmerston Drive, and Wicor Recreation Ground, in Cranleigh Road, Portchester.

The statement from the police said: ‘Portchester Wicor Recreation ground was patrolled. There were about 100 youths in the field.

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‘Cams Alders Field was also patrolled and there was a mass group of around 100 all local youths. This group were given a talking toand advised to move on.

Police have had to disperse two large gatherings of more than 100 young people across Fareham last night. Stock picture: Ian Hargreaves  (310519-1)Police have had to disperse two large gatherings of more than 100 young people across Fareham last night. Stock picture: Ian Hargreaves  (310519-1)
Police have had to disperse two large gatherings of more than 100 young people across Fareham last night. Stock picture: Ian Hargreaves (310519-1)

‘Two youths were on the back of a moped driving over the grass field. Details of both were taken, although one individual decided he didn’t want to stay chat with us.’

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The crowds of youths were ‘absolutely reckless’ and were risking their parents incurring a fine, according to Fareham Borough Council leader Sean Woodward.

He said: ‘There’s only one word for this – and it is reckless. It is absolutely reckless.

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‘If the police do take harsher actions, it will be the parents who wind up paying the fine.

‘It would be a good idea if they find out where their kids are and keep them at home instead.

‘If they get ill and infect each other, I’m sure they don’t want to pass that on to a parent or grandparent.’

It comes as residents slammed the ‘Benidorm-like’ crowds that have been congregating across Southsea Common, the Hot Walls, and the surrounding areas over the previous fortnight.

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Police in Portsmouth will increase high visibility patrols across the city this weekend, and the neighbourhood policing team in Fareham appealed to parents to keep their children at home.

The statement from the team continued: ‘Please consider when your child leaves the house and says they are going to meet up with their friends, where are they actually going?

‘With some familiar faces recognised we know that these youths are local and are contributing to the Covid-19 breaches.

‘We would like to press some responsibility to parents because if you don’t know where your child is, how do you know they aren’t in these big groups?’

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