Plea to parents to keep tabs '¨on their teens

The anonymous post appeared on social media hours after the events in Heysham which shocked residents and included vandalism, assault, criminal damage and anti-social behaviour.

Police are increasingly using Facebook as a tool to report crimes but also as a direct link to the community.

Sgt Lindsay Brown of Morecambe Police said: “There is certainly an issue with the sheer number of youths hanging round the streets and we are aware of that and that is why we put patrols in particular areas.

“On Saturday night, the officers were there within a short space of time .

“A lot of the kids aren’t doing anything, it’s just that the sheer number of them leads to more anti-social behaviour and crime.

“The answer isn’t more and more police, it’s the kids making the right choices and parents encouraging them to make the right choices.

“Facebook is used as a learning tool to encourage that debate.

“I want to emphasise that things aren’t out of control.”

Sgt Adie Knowles of Morecambe Police said: “There has been an upturn in groups of youths committing anti-social behaviour in the area. In this instance, two youths have been arrested and bailedon suspicion of assault.

“On Saturday night a large group were drinking on the barrows and some were under the influence.

“A gentleman was assaulted. I would be lying if we said the cuts on police weren’t having an effect because there are less of us.I would love to do nothing but sort local issues out but that’s not how it works.

“In the West End of Morecambe we have a few dispersal orders in place for large groups of youths and we tend to have more officers available at weekends and in key areas. We are looking at civil orders (which replace anti-social behaviour orders) for key offenders. We can pull officers in from rural areas. The days of having a beat bobby have gone.”