Mass gathering led to arrest of 14-year-old vandal after police officer was spat at

In an already challenging time for policing, Cumbernauld -based officers were sent to deal with a report from concerned eyewitnesses that more than 20 teenagers had congregated in this key thoroughfare and were indulging in anti-social behaviour.

Upon arrival, Police witnessed the full scale of this illegal get-together and had to take action after one 14 year-old became verbally abusive and then spat in one officer’s face.

The child tried to escape from the scene and was caught after a brief foot chase but the matter did not end there.

For it is alleged that the boy was linked to an earlier act of vandalism to a car parked in Honeysuckle Drive and he was arrested.

In the interim, more officers were sent to the scene to disperse the remaining crowd.

The set-up has drawn strong criticism from Communities Inspector Neil MacLeod who confirmed that this was not a one- off.

He said:“We are aware of previous reports of similar numbers gathering here and are making every effort to provide an additional presence here.

“I’d appeal however for parents and guardians to take more ownership of the whereabouts of the children they are responsible for. 

“Do you know where your children are of an evening and who they are with? “

“In particular at a time where covid restrictions on numbers gathering are in place, we need parents/guardians to take more ownership on the movements of those they are responsible for.” he added.