Oakgrove Encourages Action for Community Safety
Message posted on April 17, 2012
Oakgrove shares the wider concern in our community about violence among young people and has given this message to the student body this week during assembly.
Oakgrove has learned that organised fights are being arranged by some young people via Facebook and Blackberry Messenger (BBM). Large groups of young people, both male and female, have arranged to meet in various locations across the city to participate in fights.
One such fight was arranged for Friday night, 6th April in the Waterside area. The youths caused criminal damage to a number of cars and later, as a man was walking home, he fell victim to a group of youths who assaulted him. Police are investigating the possibility that the youths who gathered for the fight may have been involved in the assault. This is criminal activity.
There is concern in the community that another fight has been arranged for Friday 20 April. It appears that this has been organised via Facebook and apparently involves schools across the city. All schools have been asked to pass on this message of concern..
Oakgrove appeals to parents to help put a stop to these fights. The potential for serious injury cannot be underestimated. Younger children in particular could find themselves being drawn into a situation that is potentially very dangerous. It only takes one punch to bring about the possibility of lives being destroyed and families wrecked.
Schools, parents and community groups need to advise young people about the dangers of getting caught up in this sort of behaviour. Oakgrove encourages those who become aware of fights being arranged to report them to police immediately so they can try and prevent them from taking place.