Police and paramedics spent a busy night chasing badly behaved and intoxicated teenagers across the Northern Beaches.
With school holidays almost over, last night (Sunday, 19 April) proved to be a busy one for officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command and NSW Ambulance paramedics as large groups of teenagers ranged across the Northern Beaches.
Reports of youths causing disturbances came in from the usual trouble spots, including Manly, through the afternoon but the first serious sign of trouble happened at Dee Why when a group of around half-a-dozen youths were observed stealing from the BWS liquor store at Howard Avenue, Dee Why, just before 8.00pm.
The group, which included both boys and girls, was seen by a bystander to enter the store and brazenly take alcohol from shelves. The bystander, who spoke with the Northern Beaches Advocate, said the group ‘shoved’ staff who attempted to stop the underage teens from leaving the store with stolen alcohol.
The bystander said they were shocked by the openly criminal behaviour and apparent disregard for stealing in full view of surveillance cameras. Police were called, arriving at the location within line of sight from Dee Why Police Station within a couple of minutes.
The group had made their way to the northbound B-Line bus stop at Pittwater Road, Dee Why, where police stopped three teenage boys from boarding a bus. The boys were searched and items, including alcohol and a carton of cigarettes, were recovered.
Police confirmed the items had been reported stolen, but the boys were overheard claiming to have been given the items by others who had stolen them. A NSW Police spokesperson said the three 17-year-old boys were arrested and taken to Dee Why Police Station, where they were later released into the custody of their parents as further inquiries are undertaken.
The bystander reported that police went to the BWS store to take statements and presumably review Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage. Not long after they left however, a ‘carload full of teenage boys’ was seen to pull up on Howard Avenue.
A male teenager was seen approaching and speaking with a staff member, their phone up as though recording the interaction. What was said was not overheard by the bystander, but the teens were seen to drive off and staff closed the store shortly afterwards.
Those at the bus stop not arrested by police boarded northbound buses, indicating where trouble would unfold over the next few hours. Around the same time, it is understood police were dispersing a gathering of youths at Deep Creek Reserve, near the Wakehurst Parkway, Ingleside.
Shortly before 10.00pm, reports began to come in of intoxicated youths causing trouble at Palm Beach. Around two-hundred (200) teens were reported to have gathered in the vicinity of Governor Phillip Park, but were also spread out as conflicts began to erupt into fights.
NSW Ambulance paramedics responding to Palm Beach called for backup and police assistance as the scale and behaviour of the group caused concern. Four NSW Ambulance crews, including Intensive Care Paramedics and NSW Ambulance Inspector Christian Holmes, were joined by most of the police units available on the Northern Beaches including an Inspector.
Firefighters from Avalon Station extinguished a bonfire that had been lit on the beach and police dispersed the crowd, telling them to go home and loading them onto southbound 199 buses. Trouble followed however, with one bus coming to a halt at Barrenjoey Road, Palm Beach, as fighting erupted on the bus, spilling out onto the road.
Two teenage girls were taken to hospital for minor facial injuries sustained in the fights at Palm Beach. Police had their hands full managing and dispersing the large number of poorly behaved youths, and it is understood they may be reviewing footage that can be made available from the buses as part of their ongoing inquiries.
Antisocial behaviour peaks during school holidays. Some teens appear to believe they can behave with impunity and will not be held legally accountable if caught. In the case of the worst offenders, there is often negligible parental oversight.
For parents whose teens were out after 8.00pm last night, questions should be asked about where they went, who they were with and what happened.
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Have you witnessed examples of antisocial behaviour over the school holidays?
Images: Northern Beaches Advocate (incl. file)
Editorial note: Term 2 2026 (Eastern and Western Division NSW) commences with two staff development days (Monday, 20 April and Tuesday, 21 April), followed by the return of students on Wednesday, 22 April. Term 2 ends on Friday, 03 July.
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