Police promise stepped-up patrols after knife incident at Riga playground on Barona Street
The State Police have admitted shortcomings in registering a call about a conflict with a group of teenagers at a children's playground in Riga's Centrs sports quarter, and have launched an internal inquiry. Riga Municipal Police say they received no information about the incident.
The State Police have promised to step up patrols in the Riga Centrs sports quarter on Krišjāņa Barona Street after an incident involving an aggressive group of teenagers, news agency LETA reports.
What happened
A father wrote on social media that on Tuesday evening he was at the Barona Street playground with his daughter. A group of teenagers nearby was swearing loudly. He reprimanded them, and the situation turned into a confrontation.
The group included one adult, who approached the father aggressively, and the man slapped him. A girl from the group then ran up with a knife and tried to hand it to the young man. Other adults hurried over and tried to separate the sides. When the father and his daughter tried to leave, the group surrounded them and would not let them go.
The man asked the playground administration to call the police, and later phoned them himself, but was told that other calls were pending and he had to wait his turn. About 40 minutes later he called again and received the same answer.
Police explanation
The State Police Public Relations Department said that the number of calls from residents that day was high, and that at certain stages of receiving information, shortcomings occurred in registering the case. As a result, officers arrived at the scene late, when those involved had already left.
The police promise to improve their work organisation and apologised to the victim. They have been in contact with the caller, and an internal inquiry has been opened to identify those involved.
Municipal police comment
Riga Municipal Police told LETA that they had received no information about the incident. The institution said the Centrs sports quarter is part of a specially designed route where, as far as possible, educational institutions and adjacent areas are regularly checked. Security staff also monitor the playground daily. Reports of problems in the area are handled as a priority. No groups of young people regularly disturbing visitors have come to the municipal police's attention.
