Schoolchildren in Huyton banned from town center

Five children in Huyton, Merseyside, have been banned from the town center unless accompanied by a guardian. This decision follows an incident where a security guard faced abuse from these youngsters. They are aged between 12 and 15 years old. The bans were issued by Knowsley Council through Acceptable Behaviour Agreements (ABAs). These agreements are designed to prevent troubling behavior and encourage responsibility. The children must now be with a parent or guardian when visiting Huyton Village Centre. The council stated that the children had refused to leave a multi-storey car park and acted aggressively toward the security guard. ABAs outline specific behaviors that must be avoided and explain the consequences of continued unacceptable actions. Councillor Shelley Powell emphasized that such behavior will not be tolerated in town centers. She noted that ABAs have been effective in preventing anti-social behavior. Additionally, Knowsley Council has a network of over 1,150 CCTV cameras monitored around the clock. This allows quick communication with Merseyside Police in case of incidents. Residents are encouraged to report anti-social behavior or crime to the police directly or through their website and social media.