05-05-2025
'Fine the parents' after youths with 'knives and hammers' face off at cricket club
ECHO readers have called for tougher consequences for troublemakers - and hefty fines for parents - after a children's cricket match was interrupted by a gang of yobs.
Around 50 youngsters at Maghull Cricket Club were forced to abandon their pitch yesterday, Friday, May 2, after a number of youths appeared "fighting and threatening each other with hammers, knives, a garden spade, and a stump".
A statement posted to Maghull Cricket Club's Facebook page said: "Sadly, we must report to the people of Maghull another in a long list of disgraceful incidents that have blighted our club for several years.
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"Tonight, during a junior section practice evening, a number of youths have congregated on our pitch and engaged in organised fighting, delaying the start of the session.
"A short while later, more youths appeared, fighting and threatening each other with hammers, knives, a garden spade, and a stump stolen from our practice area.
"The 50 or so youngsters practicing, aged between nine and 13, had to be escorted off the pitch by our coaches for their safety, some in tears."
A Merseyside Police spokesman said: "It was reported that at around 7.30pm a large group of youths aged around 14 years had converged on to the club's field on Old Hall Lane, and some of the males were carrying weapons and began fighting amongst themselves. They then made off towards the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. No injuries have been reported.
"Officers attended and following a search of the area detained a number of youths. They were stop searched and no weapons were found on them."
Chief Inspector Sean Harrison said: "A number of youths were detained and no weapons were found in their possession. They were then taken home to their parents by officers."
The decision to take the children home without punishment was met with some criticism from ECHO readers. Pauline Price said: "All angels in parents eyes. Would never be theirs. The parents need a fine, and the child needs something on police record."
Annmarie Doyle said: "Taken home to parents... what a joke, how about taking them to jail, no wonder these feral rats think they rule the streets."
Gwelda Simmons said: "Where has upbringing gone wrong with these children, because that's all they are."
Michelle Jenkins said: "Good, take them home to their parents and explain what they DID do because many are deluded on what their kids get up to outside and never believe it and usually blame others. They need to accept responsibility."
Danielle Lacey said: "Problem is, police get given more powers, but if they implement them or go too rough with these "little angels" everyone comes for the police can't win. Lock them up and ship them to the army to learn how to behave."
Carlene Bell said: "The scary thing is it's the norm now, by the sounds of this, to fight with knives. I couldn't even imagine my 14-year-old thinking of doing that."
