Police appeal to parents following antisocial behavior behavior in Southport

POLICE are appealing to parents in the Heathfield Road/Liverpool Road area of Southport to assist us in reducing issues of young people gathering in the grounds of Sacred Heart Church cemetery.

We have been contacted by local residents regarding youths in the area and their behaviour. The majority of these complaints refer to large groups of boys and girls congregating in the cemetery during daytimes and evenings using offensive language, shouting and screaming and littering. Pictured is the litter found and cleared yesterday by officers when they visited the area where the young people have been gathering.

Not only is this behaviour unacceptable, it is also extremely disrespectful and causing upset to local residents. This is not a park, it is a cemetery and an area which demands a higher level of respect. Ainsdale Recreation Ground is only a short walk away.

We have letterdropped the local area regarding the issues. If you know who the individuals are who that are responsible for these issues, please let them know the upset they are causing to the relatives of family members buried in the cemetery and ask them to use parks and recreation grounds instead.

We will continue to patrol the church grounds as part of our regular patrols until this problem is resolved.

Thank you.