Police arrest 11-year-old boy for being drunk and disorderly after group of children abused shop staff in a Devon town

• An 11-year-old was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in Devon
• Devon and Cornwall Police said the boy had been released under investigation
• Paignton, a popular holiday destination, has struggled with 'out of control' kids

By Jacob Judah[1]

Published: 18:45, 11 December 2023 | Updated: 19:09, 11 December 2023

An eleven-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in a Devon town that has been blighted by 'out of control' children.

Police were called to a shop in Paignton, Devon, just before 4 p.m. on December 8, where a group of children were causing damage and being abusive to staff.

The group then moved to the town centre where they continued to cause chaos. Police put in a dispersal order in place before they were moved on from the area.

An eleven-year-old was arrested.

Devon and Cornwall Police said in a statement: 'An 11-year-old boy from Paignton was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in a public place. He was later released under investigation whilst enquiries continue.'

An eleven-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in Paignton, a Devon town which has struggled with antisocial behaviour

Torbay Custody Sergeant Tim Perrin took to social media to share his shock, writing on X: 'What is going on?

11 yr old on route [sic] to custody drunk and disorderly.'

Residents in Paignton, a seaside town that is a popular holiday destination, have spoken in recent months of being besieged by gaggles of out-of-control children during the school holidays.

It was reported in The Sun[2] in August that children as young as nine were carrying knives and directing threats at shopkeepers, with one resident describing their behaviour as 'out of control'.

One shopkeeper told the newspaper that he had been assaulted by a group of children aged 'around 10' and that he had suffered from 'loads of trouble with kids and antisocial behaviour'.

Devon and Cornwall Police have previously said that they were increasing patrols to deal with 'escalating behaviour problems' in the town.

It has been reported that drug gangs were targeting children in the local area for exploitation.

References

1. ^ Jacob Judah (www.dailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ The Sun (www.thesun.co.uk)