7:10am Monday 22nd March 2010
By Flora Drury
PEOPLE whose walls have been destroyed by a gang of unruly teens have been warned to clear up the bricks they left behind – or be liable if anyone gets injured.
Police community support officers (CSOs) have knocked on doors along a road in the Arboretum telling owners to pick up bricks left strewn down the alleyways behind their homes despite the fact it is the residents who are the victims of criminal damage.
The residents who surround the alleyways, in Lower Chestnut Street, Chestnut Street, Wolverton Road and Woodland Cottages, say it is the latest insult after years of putting up with anti-social behaviour.
“They said we’re responsible to get the walls fixed, but it’s them that have damaged them,” said a resident. “They said we would get prosecuted if someone got hurt.”
However, police say they have only offered “some friendly advice” to one particular person, adding they are taking concerns seriously with PC Julie Jones patrolling the troublespot every night for the past week.
Locals have complained every evening teens run riot in the alleyways near the canal, drinking, smoking, swearing and – according to one resident – having sex.
They claim the youths are now so comfortable they will stand in the road talking openly about where they are going to buy drugs.
People have had to clear up needles.
Fences have been destroyed and the garden walls are being slowly dismantled and the bricks are used to smash windows in the area.
People have suggested blocking off the alleyway themselves to solve the problem, but have been told this would go against access rights.
It means they cannot prevent the walls being damaged, so people could get hurt should a wall collapse.
“We are embroiled in too much red tape,” said another resident. “These teens have no respect for anyone's property, or their peers or parents.”
Local policing sergeant John Lawrence said: "Bricks from an adjacent wall were in the alleyway and a CSO did give the owner of the wall some friendly advice.
“She pointed out he could be liable if anyone injured themselves as a result of the bricks being left in the alleyway and it would be in his own interests to move them.
“We have recieved a lot of positive feedback from residents on all of the ongoing work by police and other agencies.”
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