An under-18s club night was shut down tonight (Saturday) after disorder erupted, prompting a significant police response in Newport town centre.
At least 9 police vehicles descended on the town as officers responded to reports of anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and violence towards security staff at Strings, on Orchard Street.
The venue was emptied out with hundreds of youths piling onto the streets of Newport Town Centre.
A number of people were subsequently detained on South Street and St James’ Street, while officers dispersed crowds from the area.
The fundraising event at Strings Bar and Venue had been arranged by parents in partnership with the venue to raise money for local Scouts preparing for an international expedition to the USA next year.
However, the event had to be cut short after a minority reportedly damaged the venue, smoked in the toilets and became violent towards members of the security team.
A spokesperson Strings Bar and Venue has tonight said:
“Due to some anti-social behaviour, damage to our venue, smoking in toilets and violence towards our security staff, this fundraising event for local Scouts arranged by parents in partnership with Strings had to be cut short.
“We are extremely disappointed for those attending who were behaving appropriately.”
The event had been intended to provide a safe, alcohol-free and fully supervised night out for teenagers aged between 13 and 17.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has been approached for a statement.
UPDATE SUNDAY – Police have confirmed that a 15-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy were both arrested following last night’s violent disorder.
Read the latest at https://www.islandecho.co.uk/2-teen-boys-arrested-for-violent-disorder-after-newport-under-18s-club-night-chaos/.
Your facts on the age range are incorrect…it was aimed at 11 to 17
Look it up on Facebook, it was 13-17! Now who’s facts are wrong!!!
Your age range is incorrect…it was aimed at 11 to 17.
13-17 as Daxie pointed out 😛
Very unfortunate but sadly predictable, it only takes a few to destroy it for the majority. when they reach adulthood exactly the same will happen.
There is little doubt alcohol etc found its way in and that is a very dangerous mix in young teens.
It would be very unreasonable to blame all the kids, but it only takes a few hot heads to mix a crowd into a frenzied mob. I hope the kids and adults learn from this. The sooner the better!
No alcohol found its way in…it was consumed beforehand by some kids actively looking for a fight.
How sweet you believe that
Patrially expected however the “safe environment” listed on the advert was total BS. They really didnt do any checks and let a situation get out of hand. I think full refunds should be given and thoughts about losing license all together as this was not a minor incident regardless of the few dodgy people let in.
This was bound to happen. This generation of teenagers are absolutely feral, no respect and no morals. People complain there’s “nothing for them to do” give them something to do, and this happens. Bring back national service.
For 11 to 17 year olds?
Most of them too young to do National Service.
National Service? Hahahahaha
And bring back corporal punishment. It worked in the 60’s/70’s and it can work today…
Teenagers today lack respect for others and discipline.
No, this generation is not feral. There are plenty of good teenagers out there and this was, as usual, the minority that caused problems.
As I recall, there were just as many fights, if not more, when I was a kid and I was born in the 60s. Teenagers need support and guidance, not silly accusations by their elders. It takes a village to raise a child. When there are consistent problems the village has failed, not the kids.
hear hear.
It is absolutely not the responsibility of ‘the village ‘ to raise children.. nor teachers, nor the authorities.. it is 100% the responsibility of the parents!!!
It the children cannot be held responsible,(due to age, or whatever) and cannot pay for the damage they’ve caused… Then the parents should be!!…
Yes, you could set your watch by the Saturday night fight at the Babalu, and it was always between the same two families. I suspect emptying the venue was a bit of an overreaction, but we live in a cautious and litigious society. Back in the day, you didn’t show violence towards security. The result would have been, let’s say, painful.
Yes there were fights but not among this age group. Back in the 70s there were many early evening club nights for the same age group as these youngsters & there was no trouble apart from the odd spat
I agree that there are loads of good youngens out there. However, this argument that it takes a village to raise a child is a ridiculous statement. I chose not to have children for many a reason, main one being, I didn’t want my or my futures’ offspring to be a slave to all those higher powers that be. And I already input to others children via my taxes and the child benefit that they receive, plus all the other added perks parents get.
Please tell me why (as I already input to society) I should then be obliged to help raise others’ children?
Well said
The minority ruin it all the time. Then young people complain that there is nothing to do.
Any money raised from that event should be used to repair any damage caused to Strings.
Hopefully those responsible for the disruption will be named and banned.
They won’t be of course, because of their age B/S once again, supported by the do gooders and hand wringers club.
That’s a shame the parents try and do something good only for there kids to ruin it, no respect.
Should be closed down with immediate effect and never
re-opened.
“It was always going to be a disaster in the making”
The police have better things to do than dealing with a bunch
if uneducated numpties causing anti-social behaviour.
I would much rather see police out there catching drink & drug
drivers and speeding motorists than having to waste their valuable
time with a bunch of low life juveniles.
Over 100 years ago such youngsters would have been sent to
the front lines, nowdays they think booze, drugs, capes and cigarettes are the answer.
Time to bring back National service and teach these wrong uns
some discipline.
Obviously their parents cannot control them, they need to be taught
right from wrong in schools.
In the old days teacher would discipline pupils.
Where did it all go wrong!
They would also teach spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Damn Punk Rockers!!
what an absolute shame for the kids that wanted to be there to have a good time with their mates, ruined by shameless teens who should be ashamed of themselves
Numpties always ruin it for others.
People try to help out young people, and all the thanks they get is feral brats spoiling it. They should be tagged and banned from any public area or venue. Why should others have their quality of life ruined by such rancid low life?
Be a great badge of honour amongst there school friends to have acted like that. Childs minds are like that..and some adults. Lucky majority are’nt trash. And as for a village bring up a child..b#####it my parents brought me up..usual libreal lefty crap from some people who can’t except responsability for their own actions or lack of actions on child rearing.
The suppliers of the alcohol should be tracked own and if they are actual shops they should lose their alcohol; licences, or if they are older people buying for them they should be prosecuted.
( As an aside – Newport has too many off licences anyway, some not properly managed – they need reducing in number to those who abide by the law .)
These few ruined a really well planned event – a few yobs disrupted the pleasure of the majority of decent youngsters. If the yobs get to court maybe they should be made to pay compensation to the Scouts to reimburse their travel fund !