Police say they will increase patrols at Camana Bay in response to groups of youths vandalising the area and carrying out dangerous stunts on their bikes along the main streets in the Town Centre.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the RCIPS said its community policing officers had been working with Camana Bay Property Management to address what it described as “escalating occurrences of anti-social behaviour” carried out predominantly by groups of youths at Camana Bay.
Police confirmed that last weekend they arrested two youths for drug-related offences in the area.
The RCIPS said CCTV footage and photo evidence have shown vandalised toilets, chairs thrown into the waterways, golf carts commandeered and crashed into obstacles, and groups of youths on bikes holding up traffic by performing stunts in the area.
“Some of this activity is about kids looking for somewhere to congregate to practice tricks and ride their bikes in an environment that is safe and accessible, and Camana Bay is attractive to young bike riders in this respect,” RCIPS Commander of Community Policing, Inspector Leslie Laing-Hall said in the statement.
He added, “However, the behavior of these groups of youths has gone well beyond riding bikes with friends, and at the extreme end, these kids are committing acts that break the law and make them liable for arrest – not to mention the lack of consideration shown towards the community that visit Camana Bay.”
RCIPS officers and members of the Camana Bay Property Management team have met the youths’ parents, but similar incidents have continued, police said.
The RCIPS said it was continuing to engage the youths and their parents, but was also committing to increase the police patrol presence at Camana Bay, supporting the on-site security guards in their efforts.
“We don’t want to see these young people arrested, but this anti-social behavior and destruction of private property must stop. If we catch anyone breaking the law, they will have to face the consequences of their actions,” Laing-Hall said.
Senior property manager Jeffrey Wight at Dart, which owns Camana Bay, said in the police statement that the company was “exploring a variety of solutions with the RCIPS from an increased police and security presence to dedicated gathering spaces for young people where they can release their energy without disrupting other visitors”.
He added, “We fully support the RCIPS protecting the community in their enforcement of the law.”
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