WEXFORD: Wexford County Council wage war

Wexford County Council wage war

“I am becoming increasingly alarmed at the rate of growth in anti-social behaviour in our society and am calling now for this council to wage war on this trend. As it stands people are afraid to go out of their homes from early evening and are living in fear in their houses – many houses are raided when people are actually there,” he said.

“Dark areas have become a breeding ground for those abusing drugs, including alcohol. Cars and houses are being damaged and people are genuinely afraid to speak up even when they know who the perpetrators are,” he continued.

Cllr. Roche made reference to an incident at last week’s sitting of Wexford District Court: “A number of people who were drunk and high on drugs came to the court to support people who were facing charges.

They verbally abused three little girls from the convent on their way up there and a melee broke out outside the courtroom when Gardaí had to restrain a number of them on the ground.” Cllr. Roche finished with an ominous warning: “There is a danger that Wexford could be the next Limerick, or the next Dublin.”

Heads shook vigorously in agreement as he made his impassioned plea, and Cllr. Peter Byrne was the first to vocalise his support.

“People report incidences to their local representatives but are afraid to give their names for fear of reprisals. We have to take action against the people who are involved in this behaviour.” Cllr. Ted Howlin said that the council was being generous by deeming these acts merely antisocial:

“These are criminal acts. We are making it sound nicer than it is.” Cllr. Howlin said that friends of his had recently had an intruder in their home: “They were in bed at 6 a.m. and heard a noise in the kitchen. When my friend went to investigate he discovered a man in the kitchen. When he asked him what he thought he was doing and who he was the burglar proceeded to give him his name and address. He had only been released from prison the week before. All they are is begging asses.” Cllr. Declan MacPartlin made reference to a number of recent serious robberies in North Wexford: “There were seven robberies on the same evening from 7 p.m. including one where an 80-year old woman was terrorised. It is ludicrous how badly policed the county is but the Gardaí are operating without the necessary resources. We need to get tough on the boys at the top.”

Cllr. Michael Kinsella agreed: “Ten days ago there were nine robberies from Camolin to Carnew, not seven. These occurred along a mile stretch of road between 6.30 p.m. and 8 p.m. The perpetrators threatened to cut the toes of an elderly woman. They were able to do this without any fear of any description. We need to get resources in place.” Cllr. John Dwyer said that the wave of anti-social behaviour was not a local authority problem, but a policing problem: “We are being tough on criminals but are ignoring the causes of crime. We should demand that the Minister for Justice gets tough on crime and the causes of crime.”

Cllr. Anna Fenlon said that services for those with addiction were severely lacking: “These problems are often association with drugs and drink. There is not enough support for people with addiction.” Director of Services, Maeve O’Brien, said that Junior Minister for the Environment, Batt O’Keeffe had promised to do something in this area: “He has promised legislation that will tackle anti-social behaviour. He has said that he will define what it is in a local authority policy document and he has also pledged €8 million in funding to deal with anti-social activities.”

http://www.goreyecho.ie/news/story.asp?j=27638&cat=news

LIVERPOOL: Let’s restore family values

Let’s restore family values

IT seems barely a day is passing at the moment without news emerging of yet another yob incident.

Today’s involves a Merseyside fire crew coming under petrol bomb attack in Belle Vale – something which will clearly shock and appall all right-thinking people.

Our initial instinct will also be to condemn those responsible. After all, what could possess anyone to attack those whose whole careers are based on saving lives and helping others?

But once the natural anger has subsided we are left with an increasingly important question – what can we do as a society to stamp out such disgraceful acts of yob behaviour?

One idea which has been put forward today is for problem families to get their very own “supernanny” in a bid to teach parents how to discipline their unruly children.

It is certainly an innovative idea and one which has its roots in common sense. The most important lessons are learned at home and if the parents are unable to teach them then what chance have their children got?

This is an attempt to address the problem of anti-social and yob behaviour at its source.

If children are taught to behave responsibly in the home then there is a much greater chance of them behaving properly on the streets and in the community at large.

Some may dismiss this idea as yet more evidence of the nanny state encroaching still further into our private lives but that would be to miss the point entirely.

The simple truth is that, unless the state intervenes and does its bit to restore family values where they have lapsed, then we will all pay a very heavy price.

It is all too easy for today’s problem children to turn into tomorrow’s yobs – this supernanny scheme is a welcome attempt to stop that from happening.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-life/liverpool-lifestyle/2007/10/11/let-s-restore-family-values-100252-19933932/

NORTHAMPTON: Teen jailed for serious assault on taxi driver

Teen jailed for serious assault on taxi driver


A teenage yob has been detained for 21 months for his part in a drunken gang's attack on a taxi driver which saw youths as young as 14 help beat the victim unconscious.
Nathan Kightley, aged 18, of Queen Eleanor Road, Far Cotton, admitted punching a taxi driver in the face at the Tesco store in East Hunsbury on November 24 last year after the taxi driver claimed the teenager had taken the vehicle's keys.

Kightley had reached into the taxi to stop the car because he wanted to speak to a group of girl passengers.

Other youths then took items including the driver's wallet, phone and satellite navigation system from the vehicle's glove box.

The driver, who was working for Bounds Taxis of Bradshaw Street, pursued Kightley but was hit over the head with a bottle, punched and then kicked several times by other teenagers while he was on the ground.

He lost consciousness and was later taken to Northampton General Hospital.

Kightley and three other defendants, 18-year-old Nathan Evans, of Friars Crescent, Ross McCreadie of Abbey Road and Steven Bishop, both now aged 15, admitted actual bodily harm at Northampton Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard all four teenagers were drunk at the time of the attack and that alcohol had been a major cause of the aggression.

But Judge Richard Bray said he believed the type of assault could not be tolerated and the taxi driver now feared working at night.

He said: "This was a serious attack on a taxi driver at night when he was only trying to do his job.

"It has to be said that attacks of this type are all too frequent."

To Kightley, he said: "You started the assault by stopping the taxi and punching the taxi driver
and all the trouble happened after that.

"The matter was aggravated by the fact you were on double bail for other offences at the time.

"You were given bail again which you should never have been.

"These courts have a duty to protect taxi drivers from attack," he added.

Judge Bray said the attack was serious enough to grant the Chronicle & Echo's request to lift reporting restrictions so McCreadie and Bishop could be named.

He added the pair's parents were right to feel responsibility for the attack because they had allowed them to drink to excess and ordered them to pay the taxi driver £500 each in compensation.

He also handed Bishop a supervision order with an anger management course.

Evans was ordered to be detained for 12 months and Kightley was given 21 months for the attack and found guilty of the theft of the keys, for which he was handed a further three months.

http://www.northantset.co.uk/northampton-chronicle-and-echo/Teen-jailed-for-serious-assault.3368097.jp

SCOTLAND: Call to force pubs and clubs to pay for 'drunk tanks'

Call to force pubs and clubs to pay for 'drunk tanks'

PUBS and clubs in Scotland could be made to pay for special centres where drunks can sleep off their intoxication overnight.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the "polluter pays" principle meant those who profit from the sale of alcohol should pick up the cost of its consequences.

And he said there were currently too many drunks clogging up police cells and accident and emergency departments when they did not need to be there.

Mr MacAskill has already floated the idea of a polluter pays approach to meet the cost of extra late-night policing.

Money would be raised through higher fees for late licences for pubs and clubs in antisocial behaviour hotspots.

But now he wants the principle extended to cover overnight recovery centres which would take the strain off the police and hospitals.

He said: "We operate these kind of places in Edinburgh every New Year when there is a tented area set up for people who have over-indulged and need to sleep it off.

"But every weekend, A&E units are full of people who don't need to be there."

He said there had been discussions about a year-round centre in Edinburgh, but plans had been frustrated by a lack of cash.

He said: "These things are not cheap to run, but they do make significant savings in resources for the hard-pressed A&E departments and police cells, neither of which are appropriate for those who are drunk and incapable.

"We need to provide facilities and that comes at a cost. I believe that cost should be borne by those who profit from the sale of alcohol. The council taxpayer has enough to pay for."

Mr MacAskill made his comments after visiting a "designated place" scheme in Aberdeen yesterday, one of only two in Scotland where people found drunk and incapable are taken rather than a hospital or police station.

The British Beer and Pub Association today claimed alcohol consumption in the UK has fallen for the second year running.

It produced figures showing a 3.3 per cent year-on-year dip last year, the largest in 15 years. Drinkers got through on average 8.9 litres of alcohol per person in 2006 compared to 9.4 litres in 2004.

• Mr MacAskill today praised the work of a Leith-based project in tackling alcohol and drug issues through peer education.

Fast Forward trains young people to communicate with other young people in a bid to prevent misuse. It currently has around 15 volunteers who are invited to youth clubs and schools to spread the message.

A spokeswoman for Fast Forward said: "One of the difficulties with health education is young people tend to disengage - they see it as just something else coming from the teacher.

"Young people are more likely to listen to other young people."

Mr MacAskill said: "This is an exciting and encouraging project because it engages a range of young people - some as service users and some as volunteers providing peer education in areas such as substance misuse - to the benefit of the wider community."

"We want to promote positive social behaviour as well as tackling antisocial behaviour, and this project does just that."

http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=1625742007#new

DAGENHAM: 11-year-olds searched for drugs

11-year-olds searched for drugs

CHILDREN as young as 11 have been caught up in a police crackdown on drugs and antisocial behaviour in Valence Park, Dagenham.

Residents had complained about troublemakers playing with firelighters in the park and on nearby Margery Road.

Thursday and Friday of last week saw Valence Safer Neighbourhood Team and parks police officers stop 28 youths between the ages of 11 and 18.

Acting sergeant Darren Reynolds said 16 had been searched under drug laws.

Cannabis and marker pens were found nearby, but no drugs were found on the group.

Mr Reynolds said letters had now been sent to parents, adding: "We have made them aware their children have been searched in relation to drugs."

Meanwhile, police are urging youngsters to take part in a youth forum aimed at tackling the problem of antisocial behaviour.

The event, which is being organised in partnership with Barking and Dagenham Council, takes place at Becontree Baptist Church, Becontree Avenue, Dagenham, from noon to 2pm on Friday, October 26.

http://www.bdrecorder.co.uk/content/barkinganddagenham/recorder/news/story.aspx?brand=RECOnline&category=newsBarkDag&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsBarkDag&itemid=WeED11%20Oct%202007%2009%3A47%3A01%3A053

NEW GUN LAW IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY

Retailers could be criminalised if they sell plastic guns, which look too realistic, to children.

The tough new police powers came into effect on Monday, making it illegal to sell 'realistic' toy guns to under 18s.

The law is part of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 and forms a central plank of the government's continued campaign to reduce violent and anti-social crime.

The law is an extension of the ban on replica fire arms and follows fears that some young people are using realistic-looking plastic firearms for ant-social activities.

It will now be an offence to sell domestic knives, razor blades, knife blades and axes to minors - as well as crossbows, air weapons, realistic toy guns and adult "BB" guns.

Superintendent Richard Baker, of Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, said: "The changes in the law are welcomed as part of the range of preventative measures employed to reduce violent crime and anti-social behaviour.

"The sale of realistic toy guns and adult 'BB' guns has been a particular concern of ours for some time and the restricted sale of these products is a positive step in crime prevention.

http://www.exmouthjournal.co.uk/exmouthjournal/news/story.aspx?brand=EXJOnline&category=news&tBrand=devon24&tCategory=newsexj&itemid=DEED04%20Oct%202007%2014%3A16%3A06%3A747

LIVERPOOL: ‘Terror families’ to learn how to make sandwich

‘Terror families’ to learn how to make sandwich

ANTI-SOCIAL Liverpool families who risk eviction because of their bad behaviour are to be taught basic skills at home, including potentially how to make a sandwich.

Organisers last night denied the programme, launched today, was an example of a “nanny state” and said the results would empower participants and their communities.

Charity National Children’s Homes was commissioned to intervene in the lives of families who often terrorise their communities by Liverpool City Council.

Support workers will visit their homes to teach a range of skills including cooking and cleaning, tailored to the needs of each family.

Gill Clayton, assistant director at NCH, said yesterday that previous schemes had seen parents taught, for example, how to make a sandwich.

“This is not an example of a nanny state. Once each family has gone through the programme they will be empowered to contribute to society in a positive way,” she said.

“We remember a woman in another city where we implemented the scheme who could not make a sandwich and the skills we teach can be this basic, but is varies enormously.”

Each family is referred to the scheme by authorities such as social services, the police or they can even volunteer to take part.

Only families with children who have received a threat of eviction because of their anti-social behaviour are eligible, and it is thought people with Asbos will often be referred.

Cllr Colin Eldridge, Liverpool’s executive member for community safety said: “There are often very complex reasons why families are causing problems for their neighbours and if we can resolve them it benefits not only them but the whole community.

“It is essential that we do all we can to get them to change their behaviour and start contributing to society instead of disrupting life for law-abiding people.”

The scheme is funded by central government as part of the Respect agenda to tackle anti-social behaviour.

It will cost between £200,000 to £300,000 a year, but could save around £200,000 per family by preventing rehousing, children being taken into care and health complications.

Staff from NCH will visit families within the city for around eight hours a week for several months, showing them how to look after themselves, their children and their households.

Around 30 families will be helped at any one time, and the period each family will be on the programme varies.

The project was launched in Wirral last week, and Knowsley has been involved in a pilot programme.

NCH says it has carried out the scheme in other areas of the country with positive effects.

A study by Sheffield Hallam University showed 95% of families stayed in their original houses, an 82% reduction in com- plaints from neighbours and an 84% improvement in school attendance.

Carol Iddon, Deputy Director of Children’s services for NCH North West added: “We know from experience that most of the families we work with don’t want to be living the way they are but don’t know how to turn things around.”

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2007/10/11/terror-families-to-learn-how-to-make-sandwich-64375-19931352/