POLICE in Dorchester have issued a warning to youngsters who are skipping school in order to use the town’s new skatepark.

The county town’s police force has welcomed the new facilift, but says the site must be respected and have stressed that people should not be using it when they are meant to be in school.

PC Jim Crocker, from the Dorchester South Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “The skatepark has been open for a little over a month and within that period of time it has proved to be very successful and attracts many people.

“It is also providing our young community with somewhere to hang out and enjoy their spare time.

“There are, however, a few concerns that I have been made aware of recently.

“There are a number of pupils truanting from our local schools in order to use the park, this is obviously unacceptable and must stop.

“Education is very important and the skatepark will still be there at the end of the school day.

“My team will proactively monitor and return any young people to school if found within the skatepark within school times.”

PC Crocker said two other concerns that had been raised about the skatepark included the lack of protective gear worn by skaters and littering at the site.

He said: “It is clear that most users of the skatepark are failing to wear appropriate protective clothing such as headgear and pads.

“Since the opening of the park injuries have occurred which would have been reduced if protective clothing had been worn.

“For the younger users of the park who are getting injured it is having a knock-on effect with their education as they are having to take weeks off school due to some of the injuries sustained, and as we know, the exam season is upon students at present.

PC Crocker added that the park needed to be kept tidy. He said: “There are bins located in the park to we ask users to please use them.

“The skatepark is a fantastic site which is enjoyed by hundreds of people each week so let’s do a bit more and keep it a clean and enjoyable place.”