Threat of balaclava-wearing gangs increases police patrols in Milton Keynes

Last weekend neighbourhood officers in Milton Keynes received a number of reports of anti-social behaviour where teenagers were wearing balaclavas and carrying weapons in the Bletchley, Crownhill and Oxley Park areas.

Officers have identified a core group of children responsible for the weekend’s disorder and are working with partner agencies to deter and prevent future incidents.

Part of the preventative activity is increased patrols in the areas to engage with any young people who start to gather as well as providing reassurance to the local community.

Long-term partnership work will include education surrounding knife crime and enforcement action in schools and key locations.

Neighbourhood policing inspector Michael Morland said: “My neighbourhood teams will be working together with local councillors and residents, to help reduce anti-social behaviour in the area.

"Anti-social behaviour can have a huge impact on local communities and one of our top priorities is to reduce incidents of this nature.

"When youths gather in large groups and become verbally abusive it can be very intimidating to local residents, which is why additional officers have been deployed to these areas. We are dedicated to ensuring that our area remains a safe place to live.

“I encourage any members of the public who witnessed the disorder or recorded any of the incidents on their phone to make contact with us on 101, quoting reference number 43180112781.”

A 16-year-old boy and two 15-year-old boys have been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder. They have been released under investigation.

Also by the Milton Keynes Citizen newspaper:

Baby among five injured in car collision in Milton Keynes