Parents ‘spoken to’ after minor incident in Similewater park

Residents in the area complained that a group of teenagers - laden with blue bags - congregated in the Avondale Drive play park on Friday night (August 17). Witnesses said the group became rowdy and a young girl, thought to be around 13, was assaulted.

Police said they responded to calls around 4pm in the area, however, upon their arrival the youths made off. Later that evening they were again called to the scene, this time before 8pm, after they received a report of a disturbance involving a number of girls. One girl was found to have sustained marks to her face.

A spokeswoman said no complaints were made, however a number of girls and their parents were spoken to by police officers.

She added: “Police in Ballyclare deal with sporadic incidents of anti-social behaviour and parking issues in the area of the Sixmilewater Park, however, the park forms part of the regular patrols of the Neighbourhood Policing Team officers and has not been identified as an area of particular concern. Officers work closely with the park wardens and will continue to patrol and monitor the park on an ongoing basis.”