Council and cops pledge to tackle brawling city youths

Vow follows fights, ambushes and schools put in lockdown

- Dave Knapper

POLICE and councillors are vowing to tackle the city's problem around youth violence.

It comes after scores of incidents involving brawling youngsters including crimes where victims have been ambushed.

Now police in Stoke-on-Trent say officers are 'progressing inquiries' to target perpetrators and reduce the amount of violence among school-age children. Outbreaks have included a schoolboy being 'punched and kicked' by fellow pupils in Blurton.

Others saw Birches Head Academy in lockdown following 'threats, three children detained after an incident linked to Sneyd Green's Excel Academy, and a fight at Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews Academy.

Outside the city concerns have been raised over issues in Stone, including a savage 20-on-one attack on a schoolgirl in Westbridge Park.