Police were called to reports of children “causing issues” in York on Friday night.
They found a group of girls and boys aged from 9 to around 13.
“There were approximately 20 to 30 young children running through the city centre,” PC Jonathan Lewis of the York Neighbourhood Policing Team said.
“These were children with their friends behaving as children behave. The concern is that York city centre on a Friday night is no place for large groups of unsupervised young children.”
He said one man identified himself as the uncle of one of the children, and raised his own concerns about the children’s behaviour with officers.
“He then walked up to the group swearing loudly and bitterly at all of them and had to be taken to one side and dealt with appropriately,” PC Lewis said.
He added: “We recognise that parents have to parent their children according to their own values and morals. We recognise that children mature at different rates and some may be more capable than others.
“However, York city centre is not a suitable place for unsupervised young people. Please, be aware of where your children are and be mindful of what they may be exposed to.”
