City centre a 'playground' for crime, police say

Officers said they were using CCTV and working with schools to identify the group

A city centre is being used by youths as a "playground to commit crime", police have said.

Carlisle officers said they were investigating an "evolving group" of 12 to 16 year olds for various offences including pulling bricks off the castle and throwing them on the ground.

The youths have also racially abused shop workers and, this week, threw lit fireworks at people, officers said.

Cumbria Police said it was using CCTV and working with schools to identify the culprits and urged parents to talk to their children about where they go in the evenings.

The force said the city was being "attacked by youths on bikes".

"These are local lads aged from 12 to 16 years old and are using the city centre as a playground to commit crime," a Facebook post from Carlisle Police said.