Kingsway Villagers

Last night I went to Bed at 10.30. This maybe early for some but my partner and I were tired.
When I got into bed at about 10.50pm I heard youths in the play park. They were playing football. The ball was banging against the railing and making a lot of noise. As most people do I led there thinking someone will call the Police in a minute.

I tried to get to sleep for about 15 minutes but could not, so I rang the Police. I was certain they would have had other calls but mine was the only one!

They said they would send some one straight away. I told them to look at the camera footage as that would identify the youths just in case they left before the Police arrived. The control room operator said she did not know about any CCTV but would enquire. I did not take an accurate note of the time of my first call but I am guessing it was aroung 11.20pm.

I was still wide awake frustratingly listening to the sound of BANG, "Oh for f*!£s sake" bang "HA HA HA" Bang and so on at on minute before 12pm so I called the police again quoting incident 578 (Of yesterdays date).

When I got through to the control room the operator said "Yes can I help?" I simply asked if anyone was coming. She said (very stroppily) "I will send someone when we have got someone". I asked why no one was dealing with it and it was explained that they were very busy. I said that the youths were still playing football and must be keeping numerous residents awake. I was told that I was still the only one complaining. I asked how long until she thought officers may turn up. The operator said she did not know. I explained I had endured enough and I was getting dressed to go and confront the youths. I was told I must not do that under any circumstances. I asked why not. "Because we do not want you to come to any physical harm". She then all of a sudden said that she had managed to assign someone. I asked how long he would be she said she could not be sure but did not disagree when I asked if around 10 minutes would be about right.

So the Police believe the youths in the play park may have the ability to physically harm me so I am not permitted to go and approach them! At 12.30am I heard talking over at the play park. A couple of minutes later there was a knock at my door. PC 1812, who had arrived on his own, on foot, told me that they were really nice lads who just forgot what time it was. He had moved them on and told them not to come back. He said unfortunately tomorrow night it will be different kids. He said the police can keep moving them on but new kids will jut replace the ones that had been moved on.

I asked him about the camera but he was unaware of it or if it even worked.

I spoke this morning with PCSO Hutton. He explained that the camera is on constant record but no one monitors it. The recordings are held on a hard drive for up to six months.

Unless people call the Police and report things the Police will not even look at the recordings. This would explain why the youths have now become confident enough to light fires on the play park (As they did Friday Night 19th September). The mess was awful and I could not let my to sons any where near that part of the play-park. There were also numerous bottles containing fizzy drinks mixed with what smelled like vodka. I was lucky to snatch one drink from my 16 month old son who was about to sample some.

I am fully prepared to confront youths and ask them to move on. I have spoken to another resident who is preapred to do this. Is there any one else who is prepared to come out for half an hour each evening. We could take it in shifts while walking dogs and simply move these kids on. We might even get to know them a little and get them to respect the area a little more. No one seems to call the Police so I am just suggesting other options.

If we all stand together and youths realise we will not put up with anti-social behaviour then we could solve our own problem.

The easiest thing to do is call the Police… But no one does that!

This entry was posted on Friday, September 26th, 2008 at 7:10 am and is filed under Local Crime and ASB. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.