MIDLOTHIAN: Parents urged: Be responsible for your children

Parents urged: Be responsible for your children

PARENTS in the Birkenside area of Gorebridge have been asked to ensure their children are not engaging in antisocial behaviour.

Birkenside Community Partnership chairman Councillor Jim Muirhead has also asked that anyone who witnesses intimidating behaviour reports it to the police.

Over the past few months a large group of youths has been congregating in the area and residents have been exposed to abusive language and sectarian chants, often into the early hours of the morning.

The youths are regularly drunk and have been responsible for smashing bus shelter windows, urinating in the shelters and even in the middle of the road.

A number of vehicles have been damaged in the last few months, while bottles have been smashed and bins overturned.

At the end of September the community noticeboard was smashed after being punched by a local youth, leaving blood splattered over the glass shards.

In an open letter to local residents, Councillor Muirhead said young children are being forced out of the park due to such behaviour and many dog walkers are having to pick up glass from areas youngsters play in.

Some residents have been on the receiving end of taunts. Councillor Muirhead said: "Some of this has been racist in nature and is completely unacceptable in any community and particularly in a small, close community like Birkenside."

He has discussed the issue with the police inspector who has agreed to use the Community Action Team to tackle the problem in addition to normal resources. Midlothian Council has also agreed to use Gorebridge community wardens to assist the police.

The council is to introduce a policy of automatically charging the perpetrators, or their parents, for the full cost of any damage to its property.

Efforts to tackle the problem have been supported by Gorebridge Community Council.

Councillor Muirhead stressed in his letter that while most young people in Birkenside are behaving well, he is concerned over the number of younger children copying the negative behaviour. The councillor said he had heard of at least one 13 year-old who had been trying to get adults to buy alcohol for them.

He said: "Birkenside has been a good community to be brought up in, yet we now have people who are considering selling their houses because they are fed up with some of our own people who are throwing our efforts back in our face. Hopefully over the next few weeks we will see an improvement in the situation and a return to normality that we all want.

Community Inspector John McGill said the CAT team provided a robust police presence in Birkenside, Woodburn and Danderhall last weekend, making a significant impact on antisocial behaviour.

On Friday, police confiscated three bottles of wine, seven bottles of Buckfast, 11 litres of cider and 42 cans of lager from youths in Birkenside.

The Community Inspector emphasised the youths involved were local, and added: "Parents need to ask themselves where their children are in the evening, and what they have been doing, especially when they come back smelling of alcohol.

http://www.midlothianadvertiser.co.uk/news/Parents-urged-Be-responsible-for.3360817.jp

BRADFORD: Pupils learn about Respect

Pupils learn about Respect

Pupils at a primary school are being invited to present their ideas on tackling anti-social behaviour to their Bradford Council-led local neighbourhood forum.

The nine to ten year-olds at Wilsden Primary will be learning about the Respect programme, launched by the Government to promote good behaviour.

Bradford became a designated "Respect" area in January, meaning the district gets extra cash to cut down on anti-social behaviour in neighbourhoods.

The discussion groups are going to be carried out during Not In My Neighbourhood Week, which starts on Monday and is a national campaign being organised by the Home Office to help people reclaim their communities.

The idea for the campaign is being led by the Bradford District Safer Communities Partnership which involves Bradford Council, the police, and other agencies.

Crime reduction partnerships such as the one in Bradford are encouraging local people to join forces and say no to crime, burglary, robbery, anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and drug misuse.

Leading the discussions will be Jane Hughes, assistant area co-ordinator for Shipley, and Linda Cleveland, Bradford's safer communities officer, who has organised the activities at Wilsden Primary School for pupils in year five.

They will be asked what anti-social behaviour means to them and how they think such behaviour can be prevented.

The Telegraph & Argus reported in January how Bradford would receive upwards of £250,000 in Government funding to spend on tackling anti-social behaviour following the district's selection as a Respect Action Area.

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/newsindex/display.var.1757290.0.pupils_learn_about_respect.php

NORWICH: Neighbours unite to fight yob behaviour

Neighbours unite to fight yob behaviour


A major crackdown is about to be unleashed on street drinkers, drug users, and dangerous cyclists in a part of the city which has become a magnet for anti-social behaviour.

The three priorities were adopted by the newly launched West Centre Safer Neighbourbood Team last night at their first meeting at the Vauxhall Centre at Johnson Place.

People were given a chance to raise concerns at the Safer Neighbourhood Action Panel (SNAP) meeting about problems in the area. The priorities were were to target anti-social behaviour, rubbish, tenancy and security issues and drugs in the West Pottergate and Paragon Place area.

The meeting, which was chaired by Janet Bearman, a city councillor for Town Close ward, also resolved to stamp out street drinking, rough sleeping and drugs between Westwick Street and Oak Street and to clamp down on cyclists riding on the path on Earlham Road.

Marilyn Hindry, who lives on Paragon Place, said a group congregates on the corner where she lives and she faces people urinating, dealing drugs, and rowdy behaviour on a daily basis.

She said: “Everything is getting so much on top of me and they wake me up all hours of the night so I never get any sleep, something needs to be done.”

The West Centre team covers an area of the city which stretches north to the River Wensum and South to Newmarket Road.

Many residents brought up problems with fly tipping, noisy and troublesome behaviour and drink and drug issues but the packed-out meeting roared with agreement over the problem with cyclists riding on the paths.

John Lear, left, who lives near Earlham Road and is on the panel, said: “I've nearly been run over outside my front gates and I've got friends who are elderly or with pushchairs, and I worry about their safety. The situation is out of control and it's a no man's land.”

For the next three months cyclists biking on the pavement in the Earlham Road area will be handed leaflets urging them not to use the footpath. The team will give an update to residents at their next meeting on Monday, January 21, 2008, at St Peter's Hall, at 7pm.

PCSO Paul Anderson, part of the West Centre SNT, said it was a very productive first meeting. He said: “The priorities they have adopted are an extension of the hot spots which we are already working on.”

A total of 19 teams have been rolled out across Norfolk Constabulary's Central policing area to tackle issues which affect everyday quality of life.

Further information about Safer Neighbourhood Teams is available at www.safernorfolk.co.uk

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/News/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=News&tBrand=enonline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED13%20Oct%202007%2011%3A41%3A58%3A317

BEDFORD: Youth charged over hoax 999 calls

Youth charged over hoax 999 calls

A teenager has been charged with wasting police time following an investigation into hoax 999 calls.

A helicopter and dog handlers were called out on 20 September in Bedford after reports a man had been killed.

A 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been traced over the false reports and is due to appear at Bedford Youth Court on 17 October.

Two 14-year-old youths, also arrested in connection with the incident, have received formal reprimands from police.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/7043042.stm

CARDIFF: Laughing yob ‘saw bus robbery as joke

Laughing yob ‘saw bus robbery as joke’

A callous thief laughed as he robbed two teenagers on a bus and punched the good Samaritan who came to their aid.

Police said the sick offender and his cowardly friends, who were captured on CCTV, seemed to think robbing and terrifying the bus passengers was “amazing” and “a joke”.

Detectives have released footage of the evening attack on the number 57 Cardiff central bus station to Pontprennau service in a bid to capture the robber and trace the brave woman who risked her safety to intervene and even gave the teenage victims £5 to replace the money stolen from them.

The man, said to have black, cracked teeth, threatened to assault the 16-year-old boy and girl sat at the back of the bus before stealing from them.

Then he was confronted by the blonde female passenger, but he punched her in the face, pushing her head back and causing it to hit the side of the bus.

Detective Constable Andy Church from Rumney CID said the three men boarded the bus in St Mary Street, Cardiff, at around 9pm, on Thursday.

They sat apart and CCTV pictures show the offender wandering up and down the bus aisle before sitting down next to the teenage victims at the back.

DC Church said: “He engages them in conversation, initially quite pleasantly, but then he starts threatening them.

“He asks to look at the boy’s phone, asks if they’ve got any money and becomes more verbally aggressive.

“When it turns nasty the girl shouts at the driver to stop the bus, but he thinks they’re larking around and doesn’t take much notice.

“The lad seems to think ‘this is great’.

“He thinks it’s amazing that he can rob people and threaten people.

“He thinks it’s a joke.

“When the woman intervenes he thinks it’s a joke and he punches her.

“He just thinks it’s amusing that he can steal property and put people in fear of travelling on public transport.”

The offender and his two friends left the bus near Llanedeyrn Primary School, Llanedeyrn Drive, Llanedeyrn, Cardiff.

The thief took the boy’s mobile phone and MP3 player and stole £5 from the girl.

He was white, aged in his late teens or early 20s and around 5ft 2in tall.

He had dark hair, a small goatee beard, black cracked teeth and wore a black tracksuit.

One of his friends was aged in his early 20s and blond. He was of a larger build and wore a red top with blue three-quarter-length jeans.

The other man had dark hair and wore a grey top.

A Cardiff Bus spokesman said: “Cardiff Bus has a zero tolerance policy towards this kind of behaviour and considers the safety of its passengers and staff as its number one priority.

“We are therefore appalled by the behaviour of these youths and wholeheartedly support the police in their efforts to catch the perpetrators.

“By the end of the year all Cardiff Bus vehicles will be fitted with CCTV cameras, with the vast majority of our fleet having them at present.”

If you witnessed the attack or can help trace the offender and his friends, call Rumney CID on 029 2077 4233.

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/2007/10/13/laughing-yob-saw-bus-robbery-as-joke-91466-19944073/

MANCHESTER: Curfew for yob who chased Street star

Curfew for yob who chased Street star

A ROAD rage yob who pursued terrified Coronation Street star Beverley Callard for two miles while throwing objects at her car has been condemned by magistrates.

Imran Alam, 23, 'cut up' and intimidated the actress as he chased her silver Mercedes convertible.

Manchester Magistrates' Court heard how Alam followed Miss Callard's car as she drove to work at Granada Studios.

For two miles, starting on Princess Parkway, near Moss Side, Alam and his passenger in a Toyota Corolla threw objects at her car, which she said sounded like `nuts and bolts' bouncing off the roof.

Jennifer Baines, prosecuting, said Miss Callard, 49, was also 'cut up' and forced to brake heavily.

Sickness

Alam, of Downham Road, Heaton Chapel, Stockport, didn't turn up for his trial last week, claiming sickness, and the case went ahead without him. He was convicted in his absence of driving without due care and behaviour causing harassment, alarm and distress.

Sentencing him yesterday, court chairman Neil Farnell said: "It must be absolutely terrifying for people to endure this sort of behaviour. It will not be tolerated."

Alam was given a six-month curfew, keeping him indoors between 10pm and 7am, and seven points on his licence. He was also told to pay £350 costs.

Audrey Martin, defending, said she would be lodging an appeal against conviction and sentence. Outside court Alam said he was `disgusted' with the decision and claimed he did not know who Miss Callard was, adding: "I have never watched Coronation Street in my life."

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1019620_curfew_for_yob_who_chased_street_star?rss=yes?rss=yes

YORKSHIRE: Huge cost of school crime in region revealed

Huge cost of school crime in region revealed

Fire fighters tackle the blaze at
Airedale High School, Castleford,
in January 2007

CRIMINALS targeting Yorkshire schools have cost the region a shocking £9m through burglaries, vandalism and arson attacks in the past two years.

A Yorkshire Post investigation has revealed that more than £2m property has been stolen and youths deliberately burning down school buildings have caused more than £5m damage.

Teachers warn that the incidents cause massive disruption to the education of children at schools affected.

And the situation has become so bad in some areas of the region that schools are hiring private security firms in an attempt to avoid becoming victims of crime.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show there have been 1,580 burglaries and 2,277 vandal attacks carried out on Yorkshire schools in the past two academic years.

One police officer told the Yorkshire Post that schools are "soft targets" for criminals because valuable property such as laptops and whiteboards are left in empty buildings during evenings, weekends and holidays.

But police and firefighters say much of the crime could be avoided if schools were better designed to make intruders more visible and contained sprinkler systems.

Stuart Edwards, a crime reduction officer at South Yorkshire Police, said the police should be consulted more often about the design of new school buildings.

He said: "It varies – some local authorities involve us at an early stage and we are in a position to offer our experience and knowledge in making recommendations to design out crime. But unfortunately that is not always the case and it is very frustrating."

Bradford, Leeds and Kirklees have been among the areas worst affected by burglaries and vandal attacks on schools.

There have been 436 burglaries in Bradford schools since the start of the 2005-6 academic year costing £700,000.

Peel Park Primary School at Undercliffe is one of several schools in the city which has a private security firm patrol its site in an evening. It has also spent about £50,000 on roller shutters for its doors and windows after being repeatedly targeted by thieves stealing computer equipment.

Its administrator Sharon Longmire said the extra security had stopped break-ins but the school was still being vandalised and having lead stolen from its roof.

A head teacher at a Keighley school, who asked to remain anonymous, said her school had abandoned using a security firm, costing £350 a month, as it did not deter vandals.

She said: "Our site is so big that a guard could be one side of the school and not see what was happening at the other. We have spent £20,000 replacing glass windows that have been smashed. We have replaced glass with perspex and put grills on the windows.

"The problem is caused by shopkeepers selling alcohol to under-age drinkers, 14 and 15-year-olds."

She said the constant vandalism had led to parents withdrawing their children from the school.

Pam Milner, the NASUWT's national executive member for West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and York, said: "This crime undermines everything that teachers are trying to do and everything that the children are trying to do... It is a massive disruption on a child's education."

Two fires started by teenage arsonists at schools in West Yorkshire during the last academic year – at Baildon, near Bradford, and Castleford – involved about £5m damage.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has been campaigning for eight years for sprinklers to be fitted to all new or refurbished schools to prevent arson attacks becoming devastating.

A spokesman said: "We do not expect sprinkler systems to be fitted into all schools because it would cause such disruption but this Government is embarking on the biggest school rebuilding programme since the 1960s so this is a huge opportunity to get sprinklers into all new schools.

"We have agreements with all five education authorities in West Yorkshire that sprinklers will be installed in their new buildings."

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Huge-cost-of-school-crime.3375754.jp