Police warn of dangers after reports of youths trespassing at abandoned old school site

Neighbourhood police are urging parents to speak to their children and warn them of the risks after a series of reports about groups trespassing at a former school site in Newark. 

Officers have recently received a number of reports including youths breaking into the abandoned old Newark High School site, known as the Lilley and Stone site, in London Road, and causing damage. 

Other reports include children scaling unsafe fragile roofs at the site – despite clear warning signs urging people to keep out and warnings of asbestos present within the building. 

Police Constable Eden Sisson, of the Newark and Sherwood neighbourhood policing team, said: “We are concerned that these young people are risking serious injury or worse every time they trespass in this way. 

“They are in danger of harming themselves from a fall or other hazards at this unsafe derelict property. 

“As a neighbourhood team we’ve been working hard to find solutions to the problem which includes carrying out targeted high-visibility patrols. 

“Appropriate action will be taken if children are found trespassing at this site, which is monitored by CCTV cameras.

"It’s important these young people understand they are committing offences by behaving in this way and we will deal robustly with those found to be involved. 

“To help us keep people safe, we are also asking for the help of parents and carers, particularly to check where their children are during the evenings and make it clear to them about the risks involved. 

“We don’t want to have to be knocking on their doors to deliver the upsetting news if someone is seriously injured, or worse, because unbeknown to them, their children were playing in a dangerous derelict building.” 

Anyone who sees children entering empty properties should contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101, or 999 in an emergency.