Shop staff and community leaders are calling for action to tackle unruly gangs of youths causing trouble in Weymouth town centre.

The Echo reported last week about a group of youngsters causing mayhem on the streets and in the shops, including riding a bike around stores.

There have since been further reports of anti-social behaviour – and residents say that enough is enough and ‘they want their town back’.

Police say they are taking action and have identified the group of teenagers thought to be responsible for the outbreaks of trouble.

It is stressed a minority of young people are causing problems.

Wilko on Westham Road, below, was the most recent target.

Dorset Echo:

An eyewitness told how a group of eight youths, mostly boys, aged around 14 and 15, ‘terrorised’ the staff on Tuesday.

She told how the group had attempted to enter the store, but staff formed a human barricade to block their entry into the shop. The youths were said to have been swearing, jeering and shouting at staff.

One of them allegedly attempted to hit a staff member with a lottery sign from the shop.

A Wilko spokesman said: “Our team and customer safety and wellbeing, while in store, are incredibly important to us.

“We do not tolerate any acts of disorder or harassment on our premises from any individuals and are currently assisting the local police with their enquiries regarding this incident.”

McDonald’s at Jubilee Retail Park, below, has also reportedly been targeted.

Dorset Echo:

An employee, who didn’t want to be named, said: “More needs to be done to protect the workers.

“Parents need to take responsibility for their kids before it gets out of hand and someone gets hurt. Staff have been harassed and abused, with threats made against them and one cleaning member attacked.”

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, Dorset Police and Weymouth BID have been working together to try to tackle the issue.

Town centre Cllr Tia Roos said: “I care for the businesses who have to deal with it, they have my sympathy.

“Closed youth centres have had a knock-on effect which is a shame, but the youths need to channel their energy into other things.”

And Cllr Christine James added: “We want to deal with it, we want to take back our town.”

Community safety spokesman for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council Cllr Francis Drake said a campaign by authorities to tackle anti-social behaviour sees warning letters sent home to parents.

Acceptable behaviour contracts are also offered to manage behaviour, and youth outreach work for key periods like Saturday afternoons is being investigated.

Cllr Drake said: “We recognise that the vast majority of young people are a credit to their community. It is just a shame that a few can cause some issues.”

South Dorset MP Richard Drax has been made aware of the problems.

He said: “I would like to emphasise that a small minority are carrying out this anti-social behaviour.

“I would like to say to parents to bring their children into line.

“The police have been visiting families and doing everything they can within the law.”

Sergeant Andy Jenkins, of Weymouth Neighbourhood Police Team, said: “I want to reassure the public that we have identified the group of teenagers involved.

“We have put in place dedicated police officers who will directly target these individuals and, where appropriate, look to put them before the courts.

“Where there is a clear necessity, offenders will be arrested.

“We also have other enforcement options we are considering, including criminal behaviour orders and dispersal orders.

“We continue to work with partner agencies such as the borough council’s community safety team and a meeting has been set up to discuss how we manage ASB in the long term.

“Enforcement can be used in the short-term, but ensuring we stop this long-term will require ongoing joint working with partner agencies.

“If anyone witnesses anti-social behaviour please report it to Dorset Police at dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk, or by calling 101.

“If a crime is in progress, always call 999.”