A TRIO of boys have been arrested after a boat was untied at Harwich harbour and hit into another moored nearby.

Tendring Police took to Facebook to announce the boys, aged 12, 14, and 17 have been released under investigation.

It comes after reports of an incident between 12.30am and 2.30am on Friday, October 20 when three suspects, who were on bikes, are said to have released a boat from the harbour, which hit a second boat moored nearby causing substantial damage.

Officers recovered the bikes the next day and investigations took place to identify the suspects.

A 17-year-old boy, a 14-year-old boy and a 12-year-old boy were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and theft of a bicycle.

They have all been released under investigation.

Tendring Community Policing Team Inspector Darren Deex said: “Following a number of reports of anti-social behaviour and crime around Harwich we implemented an operation a couple of months ago to target a group of individuals and this operation is continuing.

"We will not cease this operation until these offenders are brought to justice and we are continuing to work with our community safety partners to tackle the problems together.

"I am aware of a few social media sites which suggest the local police are not actively engaged in trying to resolve these issues and this is simply not true.

"Whilst we don't advertise everything we are doing for various reasons, the community should feel reassured that we are addressing the issues."