Blackpool MP claims 11-year-old boy is crime spree ‘ringleader’

The Blackpool South MP has told the Commons that an 11-year-old boy is the ‘ringleader’ behind a crime wave in the resort.

Scott Benton made the claim in Parliament, raising concerns about the number of offences in the area in recent weeks.

Mr Benton said: “Residents in the Talbot and Brunswick area of Blackpool have been plagued by anti-social behaviour in recent weeks, with hundreds of different crimes being committed by a gang of teenagers.

“The ringleader is an 11-year-old boy who has been responsible for over 80 different offences, including assaulting a female police officer.

“Sadly the efforts of Lancashire Police to bring him to justice have been compromised by Blackpool Council’s children’s directorate, who refuse to criminalise teenagers.

“Can we have a debate in this House regarding anti-social behaviour, the misery it causes to communities and whether the police have the appropriate powers to tackle these problems?”

Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, in response, said: “I’m so sorry that his community are suffering from this series of anti-social behaviour and criminal activity.

“He will know that it takes a team of people to redress this situation, it’s about education, it’s about the local authority, it’s about a good policing approach and I think this will be an excellent topic for a debate, and I’d encourage him to apply for it in the usual way.”

In a statement after the debate, Mr Benton added: ‘’Today in Parliament, I spoke about how an 11 year old boy has racked up 80 different offences, including assaulting a Police Officer,  and is making people’s lives a misery. The anti-social behaviour issues around Talbot & Brunswick have been going on for far too long.

‘’What residents have had to endure has been appalling. The Police have put in significantly more officers and PCSOs to try to address these issues and whilst these are having an impact, they need support from other agencies to deal with the disgusting behaviour from a gang of feral youths.’’