Officer-in-charge at Busselton Police Station, Senior Sergeant Scott Morrissey, said parents should be aware that young people were vulnerable.

“Last weekend there were assaults on juveniles by other groups. Busselton is not as safe as many parents may think. There are assaults and other incidents most weekends related to alcohol and alleged boredom among young people,” he said.

Sgt Morrissey said that most of the problems stemmed from parents having inadequate control over their sons and daughters.

The groups of young people, aged between 13 and 17, took to the streets most weekends, particularly during the summer months.

Apart from the potential danger to their own wellbeing, the disorderly teenagers were causing problems in the community and were a waste of police resources.

“On Saturday night we dealt with about 15 calls or complaints relating to the behaviour of young people, a large percentage of them affected by alcohol,” Sgt Morrissey said.

“Over about a four hour period six officers in three cars were tied up dealing with these kids.”

Police were called out to close down a party at Vasse Newtown that was gate-crashed by a group of young people.

“There were intoxicated 15-year-olds urinating on people’s front lawns and engaged in other disruptive behavior,” said Sgt Morrissey.

“Parents seem to think it is acceptable for these young people to drink alcohol, and are apparently unaware that they are roaming the streets at night in large groups and binge drinking.”

Sgt Morrissey said that it was not against the law for juveniles to drink alcohol on private premises, which was often permitted by adults.

The problems escalated when the young people wandered around town in an “aimless fashion” in groups.

“Many parents seem to have a view that it is alright if their children drink alcohol, but we are appealing to them to be more vigilant and be more aware of where their sons and daughters are and what they are up to.”

Sgt Morrissey said that parents contacted when their children came to the attention of police often assumed that they were at a friend’s house, when in fact they were roaming the streets.

“If the kids were off the streets they wouldn’t be in harm’s way,” said Sgt Morrissey.

He said police inquiries were continuing into an assault on juveniles on the weekend, “by a group of offenders known to police.”