Teenage Girl Charged Over Series of Offences in Shirley

A 14 year old girl from Southampton has been charged with five offences following a police investigation into a spate of anti-social behaviour in Shirley this summer.

Hampshire Police said the charges include two counts of assault, one count of criminal damage, one of arson, and one of breaching a Section 35 dispersal order. She is due to appear at Southampton Youth Court on 1 September.

The charges come after reports of a small group of teenagers allegedly damaging stores, setting a small fire, and committing assaults along Shirley High Street. Officers from the local neighbourhood policing team have carried out extra patrols, engaged with businesses and residents, and worked with partners to identify those involved.

Police said they found some other children present during the incidents and have directed them into intervention activities to prevent further offending.

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 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.”