Teens with baseball bats cause trouble at Colchester shopping centre

Colchester shoppers reported seeing a group of teenagers sprinting away from police officers and a security guard in Lion Walk Shopping centre at about 5.10pm on Monday.

Nick Faucheux, 30, of Priory Street, Colchester, stepped out of Colchester Library in nearby Trinity Street just as the hoodlums sprinted past.

He said: “I stepped on to the path and two teenagers ran past nearly knocking my partner over and they both had baseball bats.

“As they turned round the corner two police officers and one security guard came running after them so I then realised what was going on.

“I was a bit confused at the time though because they were smiling and were not really the toughest-looking kids.

“As I then walked off a huge group of teenagers came around the corner and collided with a man near the new café.

“There were so many of them, about 30 outside WHSmith, and they were talking about a boy who was carrying a knife on him.”

The latest incident took place just days before police were also called to McDonald’s, in the High Street, following reports of a youngster outside with a knife.

It also comes after Essex Police officers launched an anti-social behaviour crackdown and embarked on a week of action in the town centre and other Colchester locations.

Nick added: “I don’t really see many teens of that age as I guess they are at school but this week has been packed with them in massive groups.”

“Outside the back of Marks and Spencer was packed with kids who were just taking the mickey out of security guards.

“Back in my day we were scared of the police, so I think [they youngsters] need putting down a few pegs.”

Lion Walking Shopping Centre manager Martin Leatherdale confirmed an incident had taken place.

He said: “There was an incident of concern involving a melee between a number of teenage school age children during the start of the Easter holidays.

“Fortunately, these incidents are extremely rare and nobody was hurt.

“We have a strong security presence within the town centre for the safety of customers and this incident was controlled and dispersed by my team within approximately four minutes. 

“As always, we received brilliant and urgent support from Essex Police, who were able to detain persons of interest. 

“A bat type article was passed from a female to a male. We will fully support Essex Police with their investigation and we work with schools to identify and educate these individuals.”

“Colchester town centre is a safe place to shop and we will continue with a zero tolerance to this type of behaviour.”

A police spokesman said a 17-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and theft from a shop.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. 

Both were later released without charge.