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

PAISLEY: GRAFFITI VANDALS GO ON RAMPAGE

GRAFFITI VANDALS GO ON RAMPAGE


POLICE are on the trail of mindless vandals who ran riot in Paisley town centre.

Ugly graffiti was daubed on shops and in tenement closes in New Street, with businesses in nearby Weighhouse Close and part of the High Street also targeted.

The bright green graffiti was made using spray-paint and appears to be gang ‘tags’ which neds use to leave their own unique mark.

Vandals struck overnight in an area that is covered by town centre spy cameras.

Among the businesses which suffered at the hands of the yobs were historic pub The Bull Inn and its neighbouring bar, Paddy Malarkey’s.


A member of staff at The Bull Inn said: “The vandalism happened overnight and it’s disappointing.

“We have to remove the graffiti, which takes a bit of scrubbing.”

Graffiti is seen as one of Paisley’s biggest anti-social problems, with Glasgow Road, Moss Street, Causeyside Street and Neilston Road being favourite targets of the vandals.

The sides of tenement buildings in Glasgow Road are a particular target and few of these are ever free of the marks.

One 47-year-old Paisley worker said: “I travel into town along Glasgow Road and it looks like virtually every building has graffiti on it. The vandals appear to go to a lot of trouble to leave their mark behind.

“There are quite a few walls where they must have climbed on to a roof to spray the graffiti. It’s an eyesore and it’s depressing.”

Renfrewshire Council has a dedicated graffiti squad that aims to quickly remove all daubings from buildings once they are reported. The service is free of charge.

Police at Paisley have said they are aware of the problem and an initiative to tackle graffiti is currently under way.

http://icrenfrewshire.icnetwork.co.uk/pde/news/tm_headline=graffiti-vandals-go-on-rampage&method=full&objectid=19942161&siteid=63858-name_page.html

HALIFAX: 'Ambush alley attack on bus'

'Ambush alley attack on bus'

Danger: a minibus navigates
road cones where the ambush happened

POLICE were today hunting a gang of yobs who carried out a violent attack on a bus full of passengers.

The youths used roadwork cones to block off the slip road leading from King Cross Street on to Burdock Way in Halifax – then hurled a brick straight through the windscreen.

As the glass smashed, the female driver of the minibus swerved, crashing into a car.
She is still off work with shock after the attack.

Police today revealed they had had several reports of youths moving the cones from the roadworks on Burdock Way to block off the slip road or yobs throwing cones at passing vehicles.

http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/39Ambush-alley-attack-on-bus39.3375093.jp

RUGBY: Robbers wake up residents at gunpoint in two raids

Robbers wake up residents at gunpoint in two raids

ROBBERS burst into two homes in the early hours of this morning (Friday) and threatened the occupants with guns.

Police are investigating whether two burglaries that occurred within minutes of each other in Binley Woods may be linked.

In the first incident, three men broke into a flat in Arden Court, Court Leet, and pointed what was believed to be a handgun at the occupants.

They stole £50 and a mobile phone.

A police spokesperson said: "It's believed the males arrived in a stolen red Ford Escort Saloon and this was later discovered abandoned in the middle of Woodlands Road with the lights on and wipers going.

"This vehicle was stolen sometime between 2pm and 8.10pm on Thursday, October 11 from Squires Road in Stretton on Dunsmore, Rugby.

"The three males are described as Asian males wearing hoodies, scarves and gloves. One of the males is described as being around 18 years old, clean shaven, slim build and approximately 5'8" tall. The other two are described as slim and wearing dark clothes."

About the same time, burglars broke into a house in Saxon Close.

A police spokesperson said: "After searching the property the burglars stole the keys to a blue BMW 325D M SPORT saloon registration number FR03 WEN from an upstairs bedroom where the occupants were sleeping.

"The offenders are believed to have jumped over a locked garden gate before using the keys to steal the BMW from the driveway. As they drove off they collided with an unattended stationery vehicle knocking the wing mirror off it.

"The occupants discovered the burglary shortly after it occurred."

Police were called at 3.37am and alerted patrols cars to search the area.

Extensive police enquiries are being made into both incidents and any witnesses are please asked to contact DC 108 Vinod Dhokia in Rugby CID on 01788 541111 ext 3771 or voicemail 10108. You can also provide information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 11

http://www.rugbytoday.co.uk/news/Robbers-wake-up-residents-at.3374589.jp

South Yorkshire Police - Press Release - Sheffield 1

Dispersal orders are being extended as part of a drive by South Yorkshire Police and Sheffield City Council to curb anti-social behaviour in the run up to Bonfire Night.

In past years anti-social behaviour particularly involving fireworks has made life insufferable for some residents in Sheffield. Local residents may also be victims of noise nuisance, criminal damage and arson.

As a direct result South Yorkshire Police and Sheffield City Council have jointly agreed and designated certain areas of Sheffield under section 30 of the Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003.

As part of Operation Mischief South Yorkshire Police and Sheffield City Council have extended some of the existing section 30 boundaries to include the Wybourn , Darnall, Tinsley and Firth Park areas, these orders will run from Friday 12 October 2007 to Friday 9 November 2007 inclusive.

Section 30 notices are already in existence across the city in the following areas: Manor, Arbourthorne, Shiregreen, Handsworth, Richmond and Woodthorpe. These orders came into force on the 1 July and will run until 31 December 2007, with the exception of Shiregreen that runs from 1 July to 30 November 2007.

Since the section 30 dispersal orders came in to force in July the results have been encouraging. Up to the end of September 400 people have been officially warned to disperse across all the section 30 areas, and 21 people have been arrested for breach of the section 30 Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003.

Police officers have the power to take action against people acting or likely to act in an anti-social manner by directing them out of these areas. Those who fail to do so or who return may be arrested and taken to court. In addition young people under sixteen years of age who are in those areas between 9pm and 6am without a responsible adult may be taken home or to another place of safety.

Chief Inspector Rachel Barber leading this policing operation said "Dispersal orders have proved extremely effective in tackling the criminal use of fireworks and other anti-social behaviour during this period. We're encouraging people to think about the consequences of what they do at this time of year, you might think its just a bit of fun, but you could end up with a criminal record, or seriously injuring someone."

Councillor Mazher Iqbal, Cabinet Advisor for Safety at Sheffield City Council said: "We welcome these extensions to the dispersal orders and we will work with the police to make sure they are enforced. The Council is committed to making people feel safer and dispersal orders help with this. They are not a curfew; people can carry on with their normal business, and be reassured that the police have extra powers to deal with those people who persist in causing trouble."

South Yorkshire Police are working in partnership with Sheffield City Council , South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, and other agencies to keep communities safe during this period. Anyone in Sheffield who wants to report anti-social behaviour problems should call 101.

http://southyorks.police.uk/news/details.php?id=5413

SWINDON: Yobs put shop under siege

Yobs put shop under siege

A SHOP owner locked himself and a PCSO in his store while a gang of 25 youths ran riot.

Three of the yobs were also inside the shop while the ones outside, hiding their faces with hoodies and scarves, smashed the front window and shouted abuse.

The owner of Nythe Mini Market says that a dispersal order which came into effect at the beginning of the month has had an adverse effect with more problems than ever.

Arumugam Raveendran said: "Since January we have had a sign on the door that says no under 18s are allowed after 7pm and until this month that has worked well.

"On Wednesday night there were 25 of them out there. Three of them came in and when we told them they couldn't they started shouting and making violent threats.

"We rang 999. They tried to attack me so we locked the door.

"A PCSO came and we let him in but he couldn't deal with it so he called for police."

Within five minutes three police cars had turned up and the gang ran off.

The incident at the Nythe Drive shop happened just before 10.30pm on Wednesday.

Mr Raveendran said: "There were about 25 of them and they are not local, they are from Park North, Penhill and West Swindon.

"Some of them are already banned from the shop and we know them."

He says the majority of the group, which was made up of boys and girls, were under 18.

As reported in the Adver at the time a dispersal order covering the area came into force on October 1.

The six month order means police have the power to move on any groups causing trouble.

But Mr Raveendran said: "How come you can have 25 people like that when there's a dispersal order?

"They were shouting and all drunk and I was very scared.

"When they started kicking the window it sounded like the whole shop was coming down.

"The PCSO was here and he couldn't stop them."

Coun Dale Heenan (Con, Covingham and Nythe) said: "If the police can't enforce a basic dispersal order they're not doing their job properly.

"Residents want to be reassured they will deal with this when there is an issue."

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/swindonnewsheadlines/display.var.1757726.0.yobs_put_shop_under_siege.php

CHATTERIS: Yobs attack cars during disturbance

Yobs attack cars during disturbance

A GANG of yobs attacked cars and pulled down hanging baskets in a late night disturbance.

Police are now appealing for witnesses after the criminal damage on East Park Street, in Chatteris.

Between 10pm, on Friday, September 7, and 8.40am, on Saturday, September 8, three vehicles parked on the street were damaged.

A trio of cars had wing mirrors broken off or badly damaged.

One of the cars also had a window scratched.

Hanging baskets were also ripped off the front wall at Performance Auto Spares.

Pc Lisa Marston said: “We know that a group of up to 20 men were in the area on the evening of the damage.

“Some of these men have already been identified and I would urge anyone who was in this group to contact me as they may have information about these crimes.”

n Anyone with information can call Pc Marston at Chatteris police station on 0845 456 4564 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

WIGAN: Yobs stone firemen

Yobs stone firemen

Firemen were attacked by gangs of youths on two emergency call outs in Wigan.

Yobs, some believed to be as young as 10, hurled stones, a metal bar and other missiles at firefighters as they tried to put out separate fires on wasteland in Beech Hill.
Most of Wigan's fire engines are fitted with CCTV cameras to record evidence of any hostility towards firemen, but both incidents were attended by a reserve fire engine, not fitted with the equipment.
No firefighters were injured, but a fire engine was hit by a steel rod and a large battery.
Firemen are appealing to members of the public to name and shame the youths and prevent them from carrying out further attacks.
In each incident around six youths were involved, aged from 10-15.
Firemen were attacked on Sunday afternoon and again on Tuesday evening.

Steve Pattyson, watch commander for Blue Watch at Wigan fire station, said: "At 3.30pm on Sunday we were called out to a small deliberately started fire on open land off Spruce Road, Beech Hill, and around half a dozen youths threw stones at us.
"On Tuesday at around 8pm the same thing happened again as we attended a fire on open land at the top of Forest Avenue in Beech Hill. Again this was a small deliberately started fire and again half a dozen youths of a similar age threw missiles at us.
"There have been several other previous incidents in the Beech Hill area.
"We would like to ask parents if they know where their children are and what they are doing.
"The fire service is taking a tougher line on attacks on firefighters and these kids could face court appearances.
"It is a pity we couldn't get any footage of the individuals involved."
Police have been informed of both incidents.

The borough's six main fire engines were fitted with CCTV cameras in January, at a cost of £18,000, in a bid to reduce incidents of arson, attacks on firemen and thefts from fire engines.
Incriminating video footage is passed on to police and Wigan council's anti-social behaviour unit to be used as evidence in court to prosecute offenders.
Between April and November last year there were 18 incidents across the borough involving hostility towards firemen.
These included youths hurling bottles and bricks at firefighters as they tried to put out previous blazes in Beech Hill.
Last month a gang of 20 drunken youths pelted firemen with bottles and stones as they battled to control a fire on land of High Street, Golborne.

Anyone with any information about the attacks on firemen in Beech Hill or the identity of the offenders is asked to call Firestoppers on 0800 923 9999.

http://www.wigantoday.net/wigan-news/Yobs-stone-firemen.3374359.jp

MERSEYSIDE: Trojan Horse to catch yobs

Trojan Horse to catch yobs

YOBS who attack fire crews are being targeted by a Trojan Horse engine carrying police officers.

The pilot scheme has been launched after the latest attack on Merseyside fire crews when a petrol bomb was hurled at an engine tackling a rubbish blaze early yesterday in Caldway Drive, Gateacre.

Merseyside is leading the UK in the initiative, in which Merseyside police officers, police anti-social behaviour taskforce staff and members of the Fire Service Threat Response Group will ride with fire crews on board engines.

Well-known hotspot areas will be targeted and the first outing took place in Belle Vale yesterday.

Youths swore at fire staff who were tackling a blaze in a playground and two were arrested for alleged drug and public order offences.

Superintendent John Myles said: “These criminal acts clearly have ser-ious consequences to members of the fire service and local communities they are there to protect.

“That is why we are determined to work together to tackle this menace and bring those offenders responsible to justice.”

Chris Case, who heads up the Threat Response Group, added: “We do a lot of excellent work with young people across Merseyside, including fire-fighters working in schools and organising diversionary activities in the community.

“But there is a small minority who continue to put the lives of crews and the public at risk by attacking them while they are carrying out an important service. We want them to know this will not be tolerated.”

In the past week a fire engine windscreen was smashed in Lingham Park, Wirral, and crews in St Helens needed a police escort to attend rubbish fires in Clock Face after they came under attack by youths.

The Fire Service warned yobs that the Trojan scheme will be used increasingly, particularly on the run-up to Bonfire Night.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2007/10/12/trojan-horse-to-catch-yobs-100252-19940664/

PORT GLASGOW: Neds start fire in school

Neds start fire in school

POLICE are hunting for neds who torched a petrol can in a Port Glasgow school.

The tin was taken from a cycle shed and set alight in St Stephen’s High, while pupils were in the building.

The janitor called the fire brigade and used a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze, which happened at lunchtime on Friday.

Sergeant Andy Wilkinson, from Greenock police, said: “We are treating the case as wilful fire-raising.”

A spokesperson for Inverclyde Council said: “An incident took place at St Stephen’s on Friday afternoon where a fire was discovered within the external school grounds.

“The janitor dealt with the fire quickly and Strathclyde Fire and Rescue attended the scene. We are liaising with police as they progress their investigation into the incident.”

If anyone has information they should contact Greenock police on 492500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/article.php?sec=features&id=16044

LONDON: Train passengers 'gassed' by gang

Train passengers 'gassed' by gang

Police want to trace three youths seen on the platform

A teenage gang sprayed a noxious gas into a busy train carriage leaving passengers gasping for breath.

Police said up to 30 people suffered breathing problems, sore eyes and throat irritation as a result of the attack in south-east London.

CCTV images of Penge East Station show one youth reaching through an open window of the carriage.

The teenagers were then seen directing a gesture of drawing their fingers across their throats at the passengers.

Medical treatment

Police said the 1552 BST Victoria to Orpington service was crowded with women, young children and elderly people when the gang struck on the afternoon of 20 July.

The trio boarded the train at Victoria and were later seen getting off at Penge East Station.

It is believed that he then sprayed a noxious substance similar to pepper spray into the carriage Detective Constable Vanessa Cottington

Det Con Vanessa Cottington said: "As the doors were closing one youth standing on the platform is captured on CCTV reaching his hand into the open window of the carriage.

"It is believed that he then sprayed a noxious substance similar to pepper spray into the carriage.

"The youths then made a gesture of drawing their hands across their throats in a cutting action which was directed towards passengers in the carriage."

One person needed medical treatment while several others reported suffering the effects of the gas.

Police want to trace two white youths and a black youth seen on a bike at the time of the attack.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7041575.stm

NEWCASTLE: Drunken yobs strike fear into train users

Drunken yobs strike fear into train users

A COUPLE from Stocksfield are calling for a greater police presence on the Tyne Valley railway line after an incident which they say left staff and passengers vulnerable.

During a journey home from Newcastle on the evening of Saturday, September 22, Peter and Christine Armstrong were intimidated by a group of drunken men, whose behaviour they describe as loud and unpleasant.

Two individuals from the group then went on to indecently expose themselves on the train, which was packed with passengers.

The couple, who live on Mount View Terrace, say the guard on the service was alerted and told them he’d contacted police with the hope that officers would board the train at Prudhoe. However none did.

In a letter to the Courant Mr and Mrs Armstrong said: “We are concerned that the absence of police attendance appears to suggest that anti-social behaviour is acceptable on public transport, and leaves passengers and railway workers vulnerable.

“We understand from a conversation with the guard that such drunken behaviour is common on the last train, and that active police response to railway workers’ requests for attendance is rare.

“We find this disappointing and would ask that more regular police monitoring of the situation be undertaken.”

Stocksfield Parish Councillor and chairman of the Tyne Valley Rail Users group, Malcolm Chainey, said: “Fundamentally we would all, as passengers, be truly alarmed at this kind of behaviour and it would no doubt discourage us from using trains.

“The rail users group have campaigned a lot on passenger safety and share the concerns of those, particularly women, who don’t feel safe.

“It’s an issue that needs to be addressed by the industry as a whole and all of the separate organisations need to pull together to sort problems like this out.”

In January last year, an initiative to combat anti-social behaviour on trains in the area, was launched by the British Transport Police and Northumberland County Council, with the full support of operator Northern Rail.

Under the plans, the council’s community wardens began joint patrols with BTP officers to act as a visible deterrent to crime and anti-social behaviour on trains and around local stations.

A spokesman for Northern Rail said: “We’d like to apologise to Mr and Mrs Armstrong for this unpleasant incident, which we take very seriously.

“We work closely with industry colleagues including the British Transport Police to tackle anti-social behaviour on the rail network.

“This includes employing a range of measures on this particular service such as high visibility police patrols and Northern’s rail security teams.

“The conductor requested British Transport Police to meet the train. However, unfortunately on this occasion they were attending other incidents.”

Inspector Iain McLaren of the British Transport Police said: “British Transport Police adopts a zero tolerance approach to anti social behaviour.

“BTP has dedicated teams of officers who patrol this route on a regular basis providing high visibility policing.

“Officers had been travelling on this service for six consecutive Saturdays prior to the incident and had eradicated anti-social behaviour and had been hugely successful in reassuring passengers and staff alike.

“I empathise fully with the passengers on this train who were subjected to this unacceptable behaviour.

“BTP has a positive arrest policy and our officers will continue to intervene and target this type of behaviour when it occurs where possible.

“We want the millions of passengers who depend upon the network to feel safe, as well as be safe when they are travelling, and I would urge passengers and staff to support our officers by reporting anti-social behaviour when they witness it rather than suffering in silence.

“The incident was reported to police. However it is very unfortunate that officers were dealing with another crime at the time and were therefore unable to attend.”

BTP are urging anyone with information or descriptions of those involved in the incident, which took place on the 9.06pm Newcastle to Carlisle train on September 22, to assist them with their enquiries on 01132 479 147.

http://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=552400

CHIPPENHAM: Family terrified by yobs’ racist abuse

Family terrified by yobs’ racist abuse

FEARFUL: Hamid Saeed says
his family are too afraid to leave
their home because of racist abuse

DAD Hamid Saeed says his family are too scared to go out because a gang of teenagers have been hurling racial abuse at them and throwing eggs at their front door.

Mr Saeed, who is originally from Pakistan, was looking forward to starting a life in Wiltshire after getting a job as an electronics engineer in Chippenham.

But the dad-of-three told of the torrent of racial abuse he has had to endure since moving into a rented house in Stock-wood Road in August.

He said: "My wife first encountered a group of youths outside the house. They were shouting racial abuse and making obscene gestures.

"They started calling us names and were very aggressive. The following week they started knocking at the door and shouting at us. At times they throw eggs at the door and run away. One boy stole a scooter from my seven-year-old son.

"I really am quite angry. My kids don't go out any more, neither does my wife.

"It's a shame because the area is so beautiful and we want to be able to go out and have a walk.

"It's disgraceful. I've lived in Manchester for four years and I've never encountered discrimination like this before.'' Mr Saeed moved to the country four years ago with wife Noshi Hamid, 35, their 13-year-old daughter, ten-year-old daughter and seven-year-old son.

He said: "My children's school work is suffering because of this stress and we just want it to stop."

Mr Saeed has called the police to report the anti-social and racist behaviour. He said: "There was talk of installing CCTV but I don't think that is happening. The police said there is nothing they can do."

A police spokesman said the Chippenham neighbourhood policing team has been patrolling and carrying out house-to-house inquiries but their search has so far proved fruitless.

They are appealing for witnessed to come forward.

http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/headlines/display.var.1754238.0.family_terrified_by_yobs_racist_abuse.php

LONDON: I was blinded by mindless yobs

I was blinded by mindless yobs

Out of sight ... Jay's faced his demons

AFTER a couple of seconds Jay Beckford finally identified the muffled sound getting closer and closer.

It was heavy footfalls, breaking the silence as he waited for the bell to ring outside his little sister’s school gate.

Suddenly 20 yobs flew round the corner into the street, and before Jay knew what was happening, they were on top of him, unleashing a wave of punches and kicks.

Mercifully, minutes later several teachers managed to pull Jay clear of the vicious thugs who had launched the sickening attack.

But due to several blows to the head it was too late to save his eyesight.

For Jay, a promising 16-year-old footballer with dreams of stardom playing in the Crystal Palace youth team, a living nightmare had begun.

Jay, now 27, recalls: �It was terrifying when I woke up in hospital and couldn’t see out of my left eye.

�For the next couple of days they did tests and brain scans to find out what was wrong.

�They discovered the left retina had detached during the brawl.

�The people who attacked me used to pick on me when I was younger.

"But on that occasion, for whatever reason, they went too far."

‘ all I could see was darkness ’

Desperate to save Jay’s sight, doctors operated to push the retina back into place and forced him to wear a patch for a week.

Jay says: �I’ll never forget going to have the patch removed.

�I was praying, ‘Please, please, please, let it be OK.’

�The patch came off and nothing happened. All I could see was darkness on the left, and I had partial vision on the right.

�I didn’t break down and cry, but my mind was reeling.

�All my hopes and aspirations for a career in soccer were dashed.

�In a matter of days my life crumbled.�

Jay grew up in Streatham, South London, which he says was "pretty tough" for a teenager - but was living and studying in Sevenoaks at the time he was set upon, and just visiting London for the day.

Ever since he was a tot Jay loved kicking a football and enjoyed watching his beloved Liverpool team on TV.

Looking back Jay believes sport provided him with an escape from the neighbourhood, where drugs and crime were commonplace.

And when he landed a place in the Crystal Palace Youth side at just 14-years-old, he remembers it being one of the happiest days of his life.

�It was such an exciting time," he says. �A man came to school and watched me play. Afterwards he said he was very impressed and asked me to come down for training.

�I loved every minute of it. We had fitness on Tuesday and ball skills on Thursday.

�We’d go along to watch Crystal Palace play at the weekend. I was living the dream.

�But the bubble burst when I couldn’t see the ball anymore.�

Cup winners ... Jay (front left) with Chelsea Community FC

Without his greatest passion, Jay lost interest in his college course, his friends and life in general.

It wasn’t long before he turned to alcohol and drugs for comfort and he soon spiralled out of control.

Jay says: �I had some vision in my right eye, but not enough to remain in mainstream football.

�I didn’t finish my studies and I began smoking cannabis and drinking in the pub nearly everyday.

�It was so hard to come to terms with the change in my life. Everything became a challenge.

�I fell in with the wrong crowd and eventually got into a bad fight in a pub.

�I got scared and moved back to London to live with my sister Kelly-Marie.

�My lust for life had disappeared. I was just existing and didn’t know what to do with myself.�

It was a routine eye check-up at Guy’s Hospital in London that helped turn Jay’s life around.

At his wit’s end, he began pouring his heart out to a concerned staff member.

She told him to contact Action for Blind People, an organisation providing support to the visually impaired.

Jay says: �I’d never even heard of the scheme before.

�They arranged a meeting with me and I applied to move into an AFBP house called Bradbury Oak in East Dulwich.

�Thankfully I got accepted and that’s where I’ve been for the past six years.

�It took me a while to settle but within twelve months I’d found my feet and was ready for a challenge

hat challenge was to get back on the football pitch.

‘ I felt like I was back where I belonged ’

Although Jay’s days at Crystal Palace were long over, he’d heard about a disabled team in Chelsea and made a few enquiries.

Jay says: �I went along to play for Chelsea Community FC and you’ve no idea how good it felt to be practising again.

�The other people around me were disabled too, so I didn’t feel paranoid.

�In my very first season we reached the league final at Stamford Bridge and won the Disabled Cup.

�It felt like I was back where I belonged.�

Not content with just playing football in his spare time, Jay now intends to make a career as a coach.

He recently completed the FA’s Level One Coaching certificate – the only disabled person to do so – and is also studying for an Access course in Maths and English.

Jays says: �I know I’ll never be a professional football, but through this job I might help someone else achieve their dream.

�That’s something very special.

�With coaching I can give so much back to kids who want to learn about soccer.

�If only the lads who caused my blindness could see me now.�

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/real_life/article330660.ece

LEWES: Shop a yob and win a prize

Shop a yob and win a prize

A council is offering a free MP3 player and £100 in a bid to catch graffiti vandals.

Lewes District Council's clean and green team have undertaken a cleaning blitz to remove graffiti across the town of Lewes.

Now, in association with Currys digital in Lewes, the team is offering a new generation iPod Nano and £100 cash as a reward to anyone who can give information leading to the arrest and charge of the vandals whose 'tags' cost time and money to clear up.

Councillor David Gray, Lewes council's member for community and the chair of the crime reduction partnership, said: "The council is determined to minimise the impact of graffiti across the district.

"We will do this by undertaking regular targeted clean up with our clean and green team. However it would be better to prevent graffiti from happening in the first place.

"This is why we are offering £100 to anyone providing information leading to the arrest and charge of those responsible."

Anyone who has information about graffiti should call police on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.1754765.0.shop_a_yob_and_win_a_prize.php

WORCESTER: Anti-social behaviour still a problem in Kempsey

Anti-social behaviour still a problem in Kempsey

A WORCESTERSHIRE village is still experiencing problems with anti-social behaviour, despite efforts from the police.

There have been reports of graffiti, and youngsters making lots of noise around the Rocky, Kempsey.

Tiles on the roof of the village's pavilion were damaged after a number of items were thrown onto the building on Sunday night. PC Alan Naulls told Kempsey Parish Council his team are doing all they can to tackle anti-social behaviour, which has been a consistent problem in the area.

"We are still getting reports of anti-social behaviour," he said. "We have reports of youths in the Rocky area, not necessarily causing damage, but general noise and there has been some more graffiti in the village, and we are looking into that.

"Obviously, we are still carrying out evening patrols and we are still visiting the youth club and talking to people we meet in the street late at night."

West Mercia Constabulary figures showed there were 92 reported incidents of antisocial behaviour between 2005 and 2006, but this rose to 191 last year. In August Inspector Clive Griffiths said he believed the situation in Kempsey was improving after the number of recorded crimes plummeted in the summer months.

However, this recent spate of problems appears to show anti-social behaviour is still an issue for the village.

Your Worcester News previously reported how residents were feeling terrorised by groups of youths.

They said a yob culture had developed which had included youngsters setting fire to litter bins, scratching cars, trespassing in gardens and vandalising a conservation area.

lFifteen-year-old villager Jade Swainson was issued with a two-year criminal anti-social behaviour order in August banning her from entering parts of Kempsey after villagers complained of her behaviour.

The order also bans the teenager, who lives with her grandad in Old Road South, from harassing people or causing them distress and from encouraging others to do so.

http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/wnnewslatest/display.var.1754056.0.antisocial_behaviour_still_a_problem_in_kempsey.php

JERSEY: Mansell in yob terror

Mansell in yob terror

Former world motor-racing champion Nigel Mansell is having to barricade himself inside his £6million mansion after being attacked by yobs.

The ex-Formula 1 ace has been beaten up and harassed by gangs rampaging across his land to get to rocks behind his cliff-top property on the island of Jersey.

Dad-of-three Nigel, 54, is now being forced to put up an 8ft steel fence around the house at Beauport, where the multi-millionaire and wife Rosanne live as tax exiles on the Channel Island.

The 1992 world champ said: "We're fighting to survive and live in our home.""


A source close to the family said: "The final straw was when one of these yobs went after his pet labradors.

"His garden has been trashed and when he comes out to ask these guys what they're playing at, they just yell at him to f*** off.

"There's a lot of animosity round here to English guys who just come over to avoid paying any tax at home, but this is ridiculous."

Nigel was once left with cuts and bruises after he was beaten up by four men taking a shortcut through his garden.

He added: "We've been told to get this new kind of fence by the police. It's the same type they use on high-security establishments in the UK."

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2007/10/11/mansell-in-yob-terror-89520-19932098/

SHEFFIELD: 'Huge concern' over delinquent yobs

'Huge concern' over delinquent yobs

Lawlessness: Council leader Jan Wilson slams yobs

Council leader Jan Wilson told today of her "huge concern" about the problem of delinquent youths - after three teenage thugs were jailed for serious crimes in just a few days.

Callum Daniels, from Manor, was detained for at least five years after admitting robbery, rape, sexual assault, escape and burglary.

The 15-year-old - whose own mum admits is out of control - gained the nickname 'Houdini', after repeatedly fleeing from custody.

Meanwhile, the city's top judge, Honorary Recorder of Sheffield Judge Alan Goldsack QC condemned the upbringing of Lewis Barlow, 14, and Leon Gray, 15, who kicked partially-sighted dad-of-five Colin Greenwood to death at Middlewood tram stop "for a bit of fun".

Both murderers were detained for a minimum of 12-and-a-half years.

Coun Wilson said: "Young people operating without boundaries is a huge concern. It's difficult to deal with - the council and no other institution can intervene 24 hours-a-day."

She said the key is tackling dysfunctional families - which frequently provide the background of young offenders.

Daniels, Barlow and Gray all had poor school attendance and Gray was expelled. Daniels was one of six children and his mum was a heroin addict.

Barlow was from a family of eight and Judge Goldsack said "neglect, poor supervision, poor school attendance and low level anti social behaviour" were all part of his background. He had started committing petty crimes from a young age.

Barlow told police he murdered Greenwood because he "would otherwise have faced ridicule, and that kicking and stamping on people was not unusual behaviour" on his estate.

He said Barlow and Gray, both of Winn Gardens, were typical of a growing problem - youths who are "out of control, amoral and prepared to use gratuitous and mindless violence on vulnerable people".

Coun Wilson said: "We establish the best mechanisms we can, through schools, police, youth offending team and drug intervention programmes, to get at the root of this problem, which is appallingly bad parenting.

"It is not just the parents of these young people but their parents, too - who were brought up believing there was no such thing as society and no boundaries."

Coun Wilson said intervention with problem families in Sheffield starts as early as birth, where midwives and health visitors help to identify youngsters at risk.

Coun Wilson said there are "pockets of lawlessness" in Sheffield but that the areas are "turning a corner" because residents are willing to give evidence about criminals - which is not the case in some other cities - and there is strong community spirit.

Rapist: Callum Daniels, 15

Killing: Leon Gray, 15

Murder: Lewis Barlow, 14

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/-39Huge-concern39-over-delinquent.3366457.jp

BURNLEY: Boozy yobs assaulted men

Boozy yobs assaulted men

TWO drink-fuelled louts who attacked two men as they walked home from their first night out in Bacup have kept their freedom.

Burnley Crown Court heard how father-of-two Peter Lewis, 27, who has a record for assault, started the violence on victims Tristan Reuter and Darryl Witherington in the early hours of January 21.

Warehouseman James Regan then joined in and both victims were kicked and punched to the ground.

Lewis, of Hammond Avenue, Stacksteads, and Regan, 26,of Woodland Terrace, Bacup, had both been convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm, after a recent trial.

Lewis, a self-employed joiner, was given nine months in jail, suspended for two years, with the CALM programme and 180 hours unpaid work.

His co-defendant was given a 12-month community order with 180 hours unpaid work.

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/headlines/display.var.1752911.0.boozy_yobs_assaulted_men.php

MANSFIELD: Yobs making Stockwell Court residents' lives a misery

Yobs making Stockwell Court residents' lives a misery

Flames take hold at the warehouse
fire on Spencer Street in April this year.

A FED-UP resident living at Mansfield's Stockwell Court flats says yobs, vandals and drug users are making his life a living hell.

Thirty-eight-year-old Jason Beet says drug users have taken over the flat stairwells and claims yobs are setting fire to a nearby warehouse on Spencer Street.

Angry Jason told Chad that despite numerous phone calls to police, nothing has been done to stem the increase in anti-social behaviour.

"I'm sick to death of it – someone has broken my garage gutter which will leave me with a damp roof soon," he said. "Even if the vandals are caught it will be me paying for the repairs.

'Intimidating'

"The warehouse has been set on fire several times – it makes it intimidating to live in such an environment. I just want to get on with my life and not be disturbed by these people – there are a lot of pensioners living in these flats which makes the problems even worse."

In 2005, the Mansfield flats complex underwent a £40,000 revamp to improve security, decrease the number of people sleeping rough and reduce the amount of drug dealers hanging around the property.

But Jason says although the problems cleared up in the short term, more needs to be done to clamp down on offenders.

"I have spoken to the police and made countless phone calls but no good has come of it – I appreciate they are very busy but the situation is infuriating," he said.

http://www.chad.co.uk/news/Yobs-making-Stockwell-Court-residents39.3366320.jp

CAMBRIDGESHIRE: ‘ASBOs need to be properly enforced’

‘ASBOs need to be properly enforced’


MP Jim Paice has questioned the effectiveness of anti-social behaviour orders in the county as statistics reveal that half of them have been breached.

The figures also reveal that there have been no Individual Support Orders which can be attached to ASBOs given to 10 to 17-year-olds to address the underlying causes of anti social behaviour.

From 1999, when ASBOs were introduced, until 2005, 101 were issued in the county and 49 were breached.

Said Mr Paice, MP for South East Cambridgeshire. "If ASBOs are to work they need to be enforced and supported by measures to tackle the underlying causes of anti-social behaviour.

http://www.ely-standard.co.uk/content/ely/news/story.aspx?brand=ELYOnline&category=News&tBrand=cambs24&tCategory=NewsELY&itemid=WEED11%20Oct%202007%2011%3A33%3A55%3A200

DORKING: 'Vandal concerns being ignored'

'Vandal concerns being ignored'


ANTISOCIAL behaviour at a multi-storey car park in Dorking is on the increase, residents have complained.

People in Church Gardens say they are fed up with gangs of youths smashing bottles and spraying graffiti on walls in St Martin's Walk car park.

The vandalism has been on-going at the site for years, with youths blamed for racing cars through the car park, dumping trolleys and constant attacks on the ticket machine.

But residents in nearby Church Gardens flats have complained not enough is being done to stop the anti-social behaviour.

They have called for a raft of crime prevention measures including more police patrols and CCTV,to no avail.

Keith Falconer, of Church Gardens, said: "It is starting to creep back again.

"There is a lot of glass being broken down there where people have been smashing bottles. It is the drinking that starts it.

"The kids hide when the police come down but they just come back again when they are gone."

The rise in disturbances follows the decision by Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) to remove a cash box from the car park ticket machine in the lowest underground level last month.

The council said the machine had been frequently targeted by vandals and had been set alight, had glue squirted into coin slots, and damaged with a fire extinguisher.

Stuart Clark, MVDC parking manager,said: "We took a few parts of it to service but it has been vandalised consistently.

"It started off with powder from fire extinguishers being squirted at it, it has been frequently set on fire and vandalised in various ways so we decided that we were not going to respond to that any more.

There are relatively few cars parked there during the day so we took it away.

"On that particular level you don't get people parking and the other reason is that it is furthest away.

"The people that park there, particularly the older people, prefer to park nearer the shops."

Mr Clark said the council was looking into using anti-graffiti paint on the car park walls, but he said other crime prevention were needed to stamp out the vandalism.

"It is a serious concern that has been going on for quite a while," he admitted.

We are talking about youths congregating and having some sort of social club down there.

There are some behavioural problems which police are monitoring but it is very difficult to stop without CCTV and unless the police go down there every hour it is very difficult to stop.

"It has stopped to some extent because the machine was the object of most of the vandalism. We are monitoring the situation."

It is believed any costly crime prevention measures are likely to be put on hold until the future of the site, which is part owned by Thornfield and MVDC,is decided.

In September last year Church Gardens residents received a letter from Dorking neighbourhood officer PC Lisa Wells stating changes were needed to alleviate the vandalism.

But, the letter said, this was unlikely because authorities could not invest in long-term crime reduction initiatives if there was a possibility the site could be re-developed.

Following a neighbourhood panel meeting the issue of vandalism in St Martin's Walk has formed a priority for Mole Valley's Safer Neighbourhood Team.

Neighbourhood specialist officer, PC Michelino Vaccaro, and Police Community Support Officers Clive Hudson and Kim Boichat are regular-ly said to patrol the area.

PC Vaccaro and his team have confiscated alcohol from teenagers and arrests have been made in relation to criminal damage to the car park ticket machine and graffiti.

PC Vaccaro said: "Members of the community should be reassured that Surrey Police is listening to their concerns and working with partners to address the issues."

http://icsurreyonline.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200surreyheadlines/tm_headline=vandal-concerns-being-ignored&method=full&objectid=19930225&siteid=50101-name_page.html

LIVERPOOL: £1m nannies to sort out yobs

£1m nannies to sort out yobs

PROBLEM families in Liverpool are being targeted in a £1.2m scheme that will see a “supernanny” go into their homes.

Loutish parents and unruly children can be the bane of people’s lives.

Now, to help them and their neighbours, the council has teamed up with the children’s charity NCH to offer them one-to-one assistance.

In the past, bad tenants would simply be evicted.

Through this four-year scheme, council chiefs say, they hope to get to the root cause of anti-social behaviour and prevent families from losing their homes – rather than just moving them on.

The helpers teach parents how to discipline their children – much like TV’s Supernanny.

But that is only one aspect of their role.

Those assigned to problem families look at their entire lives and act accordingly.

This could be getting the family into a proper routine and teaching them how to make a nutritious meal, to taking parents or the children to the doctors.

Similar schemes have already been launched in Wirral and Knowsley and there are others across the country.

The project costs around £300,000 in taxpayers’ money a year, but those behind it say the savings long-term far outweigh the initial layout.

They also say research has shown this approach can turn anti-social behaviour around in eight out of 10 cases.

Deputy director of Children’s Services for NCH North West, Carol Iddon, said: “If you have to rehouse, it costs money. Children could go into care.

“If we get this right we can save up to £200,000 per family.”

The scheme has been commissioned by Liverpool council as part of the RESPECT agenda – which targets anti-social behaviour.

The NCH team is seven strong with five dealing directly with families.

Around 30 families will be helped at any one time.

A panel will decide who would benefit.

People are referred to the service by landlords, the police or the council, or they can refer themselves.

Only those at risk of eviction through anti-social behaviour can take part.

If families refuse, the eviction process goes ahead.

Ms Iddon added: “Families have deep-rooted problems and don’t want to be living the way they are.

“They need support, not punishment.”

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2007/10/11/1m-nannies-to-sort-out-yobs-100252-19931250/