Parents alerted over children congregating in city

Parents at all primary and secondary schools in Norfolk have been warned about safety risks following significant numbers of children and teenagers gathering in Norwich city centre.

Hundreds of young people were at Haymarket throughout the day on 8 November, with similar mass meet-ups taking place on subsequent Saturdays.

Police said they had seen underage drinking and had received reports about minor criminal damage, but they had received "positive feedback" from young people after stepping up patrols.

In a letter to schools, Norfolk Community Safety Partnership said: "There are concerns about some of the behaviours being demonstrated and that young people may be vulnerable to exploitation."

Those gathering in Haymarket are believed to be aged from 11 to 19 and from across the county.

The letter from the partnership – which is made up of councils and the police – passed on advice about "keeping your child safe while enjoying time in the community", which included knowing where children were, encouraging them to stick with their friends, and having fully-charged phones and money for public transport.

"Talk about recognising red flags in other people's behaviour and what to do if something feels wrong," it added.

"Make sure they know how to seek help for themselves or a friend if needed.

"Regularly talk about online and offline risks, including grooming and exploitation, and reassure them they can come to you without fear of getting into trouble."

Police said they had received complaints from retailers, city centre workers and visitors to the city about the gathering on 8 November, with some people feeling intimidated.

"We've continued to see groups of children and young people gathering in the Haymarket on the past couple of Saturdays. However, there have been fewer incidents of concern and complaints," police said.

"The feedback from young people and children has also been positive: they've been engaging with officers and partner agencies and have said they appreciate the increased focus on that area."

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