Update on investigation into anti-social behaviour in Shirley High Street, Southampton

As part of our ongoing investigation into anti-social behaviour in Shirley, we have now charged a teenage girl with five offences.

Officers have been working hard to support local businesses and residents this summer, as we have seen reports of a small group of teens allegedly causing damage to stores, setting a small fire and committing assaults along the High Street.

Through attending incidents, conducting investigations and working with our partners, the local neighbourhood team began to find allegations centred around a small number of teenagers, but found there was other children present or in the area at the time. We have worked to put in intervention activities with them, and this has diverted them from becoming further involved in any anti-social behaviour.

As part of the investigation, we have now charged a 14-year-old girl from Southampton with two counts of assault, one of criminal damage, one of arson and one of breaching a section 35 dispersal order direction.

She will appear at Southampton Youth Court on September 1.

We are also liaising with the CPS about further alleged offences.

Superintendent Phil Lamb said: "The Shirley neighbourhood policing team and Local Bobby have been working incredibly hard to respond to incidents of anti-social behaviour in the High Street this summer.

"As well as responding to incidents, we have been conducting additional patrols, in particular focused on times when we knew the High Street would be busier, along with maintaining regular contact with businesses and residents to ensure their concerns are heard and incidents are reported.

"The kind of behaviour which has been reported has clearly had a considerable impact on the local community, and it was important to meet with them yesterday (August 13) to discuss this with them and look at what further we can do to support them.

"We have charged a girl with five offences, and we are consulting with the CPS about a number of further alleged offences committed in Shirley."