Police have released footage of officers being surrounded by up to 100 teenagers in a town centre and ‘appalling’ scenes as a number of them launched an attack.
They urged parents to take responsibility for their children following the frightening disturbance in Stanley, County Durham.
The video from body cameras shows uniformed officers responding to a report of a ‘vulnerable female’ at the bus station, and being quickly surrounded.
A Police Community Support Officer was punched in the face and a group of around 20 youths in hoodies threw bricks, lit fireworks and attacked the police.
A youth attacks a police Police Community Support Officer, while other hoodies throw bricks and fireworks at officers
Durham Police were responding to a report of a ‘vulnerable female’ at the bus station in Stanley and were quickly surrounded by youths
Officers at the disturbing confrontation, which occurred around 8.40pm on Saturday November 3, were heard to say ‘We are asking people nicely to move away’ before tensions rose and they shouted: ‘Everybody out, move back now.’
Sergeant Emma Kay said: ‘Disorder of this kind is totally unacceptable and violence against our officers will not be tolerated.
‘Action will be taken against all the individuals involved that night and Stanley Police will continue to take positive action against anyone involved in this type of behaviour.
‘Parents were asked to come and review the footage from the officers’ body cams that night and they all agreed the behaviour of the children was appalling.
Officers were heard to say ‘We are asking people nicely to move away’ before tensions rose and they shouted: ‘Everybody out, move back now’
Durham Police urged parents to take responsibility for their children following the frightening disturbance in Stanley around 8.40pm on Saturday November 3
A large group of youths in the street. Sergeant Emma Kay said: ‘Disorder of this kind is totally unacceptable and violence against our officers will not be tolerated’
‘While there is a hardcore group of individuals involved in this incident, there are many more people stood on the sidelines, young people who are going to affect their life chances by continuing to engage in this type of behaviour.
‘We are asking for parents to step up to the plate, take responsibility for your children.
‘Do you know where they are, or are they going to bring trouble to your door?’
To prevent further disturbances, they had set up a text message service which will alert parents when there is trouble in the town centre and it will tell them to collect their teenagers and remove them from trouble.
The sergeant asked them to sign up to the Be Informed text service which will alert them to collect their children if there is trouble in Stanley.