Two people have been from coming to Sussex by police investigating a gang on a cycling rampage through Asda at Brighton Marina.
Sussex Police said at lunchtime today (Saturday 17 August): “Brighton and Hove police have placed bail conditions restricting two people from entering Sussex following their arrest in connection with the anti-social behaviour involving a number of youths at a Brighton supermarket.
“Police responded to a report of threats made by youths at Asda, at Brighton Marina, on the afternoon of (Sunday) 23 June.
“On Friday morning (16 August) officers from Brighton went to an address in Greenwich, south east London, and arrested a 19-year-old man and a 12-year-old boy.
“Both were arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. The 19-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of threatening behaviour and dangerous cycling.
“The arrest for grievous bodily harm relates to an incident, believed to be linked to the youth group, in Madeira Drive, Brighton, in which a passer-by fell and sustained a broken wrist and a broken rib in confrontation with members from the group.”
Superintendent Julia Pope said: “Our efforts to track down this group, with the assistance of the Metropolitan Police, led us to make the two arrests on Friday.
“Further work is continuing to identify other members of the group.
“This type of this intimidating behaviour is unacceptable and we want to make it clear that this will not be tolerated.
“The arrested pair have been released on police bail until (Friday) 13 September while inquiries are ongoing.
“We have placed strict bail conditions on both stating they must not enter Sussex during this time.
“We are keen to encourage any victims or witnesses who may have been in the area of the Asda store at Brighton Marina around 4.30pm on (Sunday) 23 June, to contact us.
“You may hold vital information to assist us in identifying other members of the group and progressing the investigation.
“We would like to thank the public for their support during this investigation and if you believe you can assist in any way, please report it online or call 101, quoting serial 924 of 23/06.”
I believe that the frustration for residents is that the police did not attend at the time, and then issued a pathetic excuse, stating that ‘no complaints’ were made.
It’s taken weeks to get the police to actually respond. What will it take to get the police to respond to the permanent attacks on Hove’s shops? They won’t turn up and seem to ignore this mini-crime-wave which is so affecting local business owners.
It is good to see that the police have finally acted, after a degree of shaming by the local press, and a YouTube video which showed this group making their way across Brighton, over a day, aggravating and threatening locals, abusing and attacking people, and clearly thinking the law would not touch them. The police’s initial reaction clearly showed they couldn’t be bothered.
It’s frustrating.
This group were on video all day, they even videoed themselves harassing pedestrians and cars, abusing people in Asda, stealing, assaulting people, AND put the footage up on Youtube. How much more evidence do you want before you do something? Why didn’t you act before you were shamed by the local press?
Yes, so 13 September, when the original bail expired, is now nearly a week ago. About time for an update from the police, is it not? I may change my user name to ‘fed-up with Brighton police’.