Children charged after alleged affray at Helensvale Town Centre

Six children aged between 11 and 13 have been charged by police after an alleged assault at a Gold Coast shopping centre.

Security personnel and a police officer were allegedly assaulted at Helensvale Town Centre on Thursday. Picture: File/Queensland Police Service

Six children aged as young as 11 have been charged by police after an alleged fracas at a Gold Coast shopping centre.

Police allege the children — five girls between 11 and 13 years old and a 12-year-old boy — had been asked to leave a retail store due to their behaviour at about 2.40pm on Thursday.

A 56-year-old man followed the children as they left the store and was allegedly assaulted by a 13-year-old girl in the group.

Shopping centre security and police became involved, but as an officer attempted to restrain the girl she allegedly hit the officer in the back of the head.

Police took the children into custody after the drama and they have since been charged.

The 13-year-old Pimpama girl was charged with assault occasioning bodily hard, serious assault of a police officer, and affray, and will appear in the Southport Childrens Court on July 9.

A 12-year-old Upper Coomera boy was charged with affray and was issued a notice to appear at Southport Childrens Court on July 9.

An 11-year-old girl was charged with affray and assault. The remaining three girls were all charged with affray.

The children were dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act.

The 56-year-old man was taken to hospital by paramedics with facial injuries, while the police officer who was struck did not need to be taken to hospital.

Originally published as Children charged after alleged affray at Helensvale Town Centre