WOOD GREEN/LONDON: Crackdown on yobs who had centre 'under siege'

Crackdown on yobs who had centre 'under siege'

A GANG of youths who kept a community centre under siege is facing a police crackdown.

People going to the Selby Centre, Selby Road, Tottenham, have faced harassment from youths who have roamed the building abusing staff, smoking drugs and stealing.

Sergeant George Hawthorne, of White Hart Lane Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "They've caused two years of trouble. They had the place under siege. They attacked a member of staff because he looked at one of them.

"As he was leaving work they came up with heavy locks and smashed his bike up."

The team have secured an anti-social behaviour injunction against the ringleader which bans him from the area.

They were due back in Edmonton County Court on Tuesday to secure three more against other members, each lasting two years.

The injunctions will be followed up with police patrols in the area.

Sergeant Hawthorne said: "The level of complaints meant we had to do something. At some point you have to wave the big stick."

An application for an anti-social behaviour order against another member of the gang has also been lodged with the courts.

"We get on with them," said Sergeant Hawthorne.

"One of them just asked us the other day if he could join the army so we've set a date to take him down to the army recruitment centre in Holborn. We're still keen to help them."

Councillor Nilgun Canver, cabinet member for safer communities, said: "This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated.

"Two walls next to Selby Court will also be taken down to make the area more open and safe.

http://www.tottenhamjournal.co.uk/content/haringey/tottenhamjournal/news/story.aspx?brand=TWGJOnline&category=news&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newstwgj&itemid=WeED08%20Aug%202007%2015%3A51%3A15%3A780