Police urge parents to work with officers following ASB reports at former army camp

Northumbria Police are urging parents to work with them to keep youngsters safe by helping tackle anti-social behaviour at a former army camp in South Tyneside.

Reports of large gatherings at the disused site on the outskirts of East Bolden prompted police comment.

Officers have been called to the abandoned army camp 25 times over the last year following reports of young people drinking.

In one incident police were called to, they found a teenage boy unconscious behind a derelict bunker.

Northumbria Police are set to continue their work alongside South Tyneside Council and Wear Fire & Rescue Service to crack down on the spate of sightings.

Officers are now asking parents and carers to talk to children about where they are heading and the dangers of the site.

Patrols of the area and sharing of intelligence over incidents at the former army camp are set to increase.

Sergeant Lee Meadows of Northumbria Police said: “We have attended various incidents in recent months involving anti-social behaviour at the former army camp – predominantly involving young people gathering with friends and drinking alcohol on the land.

“We recognise that we are talking about a minority of young people who are involved, but I would ask parents and carers to work with us as we tackle anti-social behaviour and speak to children about where they are heading, what they are doing and the potential consequences of getting mixed up in this type of activity.

“Ultimately, as we move into the summer months, we need your support to tackle anti-social behaviour at the camp and to help ensure that young people in the community are safe.

“I’d also like to remind anyone considering a visit to the site that it is private land and trespassing is a criminal offence.

“The land itself houses multiple buildings that, over the years, have deteriorated significantly and are in an extremely poor state of repair.

“Therefore, this also poses a great safety risk to those who decide to trespass with lots of glass, bricks and rubble on the land.”