Teen Sentenced After Knife Found at Bexleyheath Funfair Disorder
A 13-year-old boy has been sentenced after being found in possession of a knife during a disturbance at Capital Funfairs in Bexleyheath earlier this month.
Police were called to the scene following reports of disorder involving groups of youths. While most had dispersed before officers arrived, a number of arrests were made for various offences including possession of offensive weapons.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted the offence at Bromley Magistrates’ Court earlier this week. He was sentenced to a four-month youth offender panel — a community-based rehabilitation programme aimed at reducing reoffending by young people.
Funfair Temporarily Shut Down
The incident forced the temporary closure of the funfair, which later reopened with new security measures in place. Organisers introduced knife wands, ID checks, and increased CCTV coverage to ensure public safety.
In a statement, organisers Capital Funfairs said:
“We are a family fun fair, for families, run by families. To support a family-oriented environment, children under the age of 14 will not be allowed entrance without an accompanying adult. ID may need to be shown to verify age.”
Community Concerns
The incident has sparked concern from local residents about safety at public events and the growing issue of knife crime among teenagers. Police have reassured the public that patrols will continue in the area to deter similar incidents.
Youth Offender Panels, like the one imposed on the 13-year-old, involve meetings with trained community members, victims (where appropriate), and the offender to discuss the impact of the crime and steps toward making amends.
