Police have assured the public there is no wider threat following a shooting and two stabbing incidents in Timaru in the past 11 days.

But they have urged parents to keep an eye on their children after seeing an increase in the number of young people out late at night, involved in anti-social behaviour and often under the influence of alcohol.

Sergeant Warwick Worth’s comments come after a stabbing at Caroline Bay in the early hours of New Year’s Day, which police said appeared to not be a random attack.

While they earlier told Stuff the assault happened at a playground at Caroline Bay, on Tuesday, Worth, of Timaru, confirmed the victim, an 18-year-old man, was stabbed and taken to hospital following the incident at 12.15am near the Caroline Bay Carnival ferris wheel.

Worth said the person was treated for a non-life threatening stab wound and discharged later that day.

“It appears this was not a random attack, and we are pursuing positive lines of inquiry, including CCTV footage of the event,’’ he said.

“We are interested in hearing from members of the public who may have further information to offer.”

On Christmas Eve, a 13-year-old was stabbed following an altercation near West End Park, and two days earlier on December 22, a man and woman were taken to Timaru Hospital in a serious condition with gunshot wounds after an incident believed to have taken place in the car park of a motel in central Timaru.

As of Tuesday afternoon, police had no further updates on the two incidents.

Worth said there was no threat to the wider public as the attacks were not random and those involved in the incidents were known or partially known to each other.

The two stabbings involved young people and Worth said parents should be aware of who their children were with, who their friends were and what they were doing with their friends.

“The two stabbings were not linked, but we have seen an increase in young people out and about late at night and being involved in anti-social behaviour and often under the influence of alcohol,” Worth said.

“The incidents were not random, so the public are safe.”

Worth said he wanted to echo the sentiments of Wānaka Senior Sergeant Chris Brooks, who recently warned parents it was “not our job to bring your kid up”.

Further information about the stabbing at Caroline Bay can be provided by phone by calling 105, or online at 105.police.govt.nz using Update Report and quoting file number 240101/1879.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.