Billericay parents are being urged to keep a watchful eye on their children after it emerged police had had to stop a 10-year-old child roaming the High Street late last Friday night.

Concerns are growing that the escalating problems being caused by yobs are putting young people at risk.

Police are encouraging parents to take responsibility for their children.

They are worried that youngsters are placing themselves in danger by loitering around potential trouble-spots like the town centre and the railway station.

A police spokesman said: "My question to parents is 'Do you know where and what your kids are doing late at night?'

"We do not want to see youngsters running the risk of becoming involved in the sort of yob behaviour we have been experiencing, or worse still, becoming the victim of a crime."

Police had to deal with a number of drink-related incidents involving young people last Friday night (December 8).

And they were shocked when they stopped the 10-year-old late in the evening. He was accompanied by older youths.

A police spokesman said problems were developing where under-age youths were congregating and drinking alcohol.

He said: "It is still clear that there is a 'yob' element operating in the Billericay area, often fuelled by alcohol.

"It is amazing and disappointing to see the number of youths as young as 14 being found at trouble spots such as the rail station as late as 11.30pm to midnight."

On the same night a 16-year-old youth was arrested by police for drunken and disorderly behaviour at Billericay Railway Station.

Police were also called to Lake Meadows in Radford Way after a security guard was abused and had stones thrown at him by a group of youths.

The recent escalation of trouble at Lake Meadows has already forced the council to enforcing a curfew from 8pm.

Police are also patrolling problem areas, but officers are becoming increasingly stretched trying to cope with the number of incidents involving youth nuisance across the town.

The railway station, for example, has been the scene of a number of unprovoked assaults recently.

The youth arrested at the rail station was reprimanded before being released.

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