Concerns after teens gather and fight with bat

A fight which saw a teenager swinging a baseball bat among a crowd of youths has led to a teenage boy being arrested, police said.

Officers were called to the Haymarket, Norwich, at 21:22 GMT on Saturday following reports of a fight involving several people.

A 17-year-old boy suffered facial injuries, and while he initially refused medical treatment at the scene, he was later checked over by ambulance staff, the force said.

The youth was not taken to hospital and left the scene after he refused to provide police with any details about what had happened. Hay Hill has seen a few hundred youngsters gather at weekends, and shops around the seated space have complained of anti-social behaviour.

Officers carried out an extensive search of the area immediately after the fight, and the suspects were seen to run off in the direction of Theatre Street.

A review of CCTV footage was carried out, and police have also spoken to witnesses.

"Their enquiries have confirmed that suspects were in possession of a metal pole and a baseball bat," Norfolk Police said in a statement.

A teenage boy from the Dereham area has been arrested in connection with the incident and remains in police custody.

Police were still in the process of tracing all those involved, the force added.

Ch Insp Sarah Dallas said: "I've seen the online footage of this incident, and I know it will concern people.

"I want to reassure you that Haymarket and Hay Hill continue to be our focus in the city centre as one of our policing hotspots.

"We're also using intelligence-led enforcement activity to target youth violence to try to prevent this type of behaviour and help everyone to feel safe and confident in the city centre.

In November, the force said it was carrying out additional patrols in the Haymarket, external area, "in response to concerns over antisocial behaviour".

"We're also working alongside partners to proactively tackle the issue, and I'd ask anyone in the community who may have information about this incident or any other concern to please share this with us," said Dallas.

Officers also attended two separate reports of assault outside licensed premises in Queen's St and Prince of Wales Road in Norwich, earlier in the evening on Saturday.

Investigations were continuing, including whether these were connected to the assault in Haymarket, police said.

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