News / Police chief on town centre disorder: ‘We cannot have a repeat of this weekend’
THERE will be an increased police presence in Lerwick town centre over the coming weeks after two teenagers were taken to hospital following an assault on Friday night.
Shetland area commander chief inspector Chris Sewell said “we cannot have a repeat of this weekend”.
Video footage circulating on social media showed a large congregation of youngsters near the port authority office on the Esplanade with some kicking and punching a teenager lying on the ground.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said a 15-year-old female youth and a 16-year-old male youth were both taken to Gilbert Bain Hospital, and both were subsequently released.
They said the investigation is “currently ongoing, with officers following a positive line of enquiry”.
Speaking on Monday morning, Sewell said “like everyone else” he was “shocked” by the level of violence involved.
“Police Scotland has a responsibility to keep people safe and I am committed to working with partners to address this issue,” he added.
But Sewell said it had been “interesting reading some of the comments online around public expectations of policing”.
He added: “The reality is that anyone under the age of 18 is legally considered a child and is treated as such within the justice system.
“Police Scotland is bound by enacted legislation and officers in Shetland must operate within the constraints of the law.
“Arguably, there is a disconnect between public expectation following incidents such as this and what policing can lawfully deliver in terms of response. The focus must be on prevention.”
Sewell said there is “so much good prevention work on-going in Shetland” in relation to whole system change, and tackling the root causes of crime.
“However, incidents like this demonstrate that there’s a distance to go,” he continued.
“Please be assured that I am listening to the community concerns and will ensure a robust response.”
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