Anti Social Behaviour Call

At last nights Ashmore Park Police Liaison Committee meeting held at Coppice Close Community Centre local residents demanded that the police, the local authority and other agencies come together and stop some of the anti social behaviour taking place on the Ashmore Park Shopping Parade.

Residents spoke about large groups of young people kicking footballs at the shops at night and the incessant thump of the ball against the toilets block on the Shopping Parade and the shutters on the shops.

Local police officers present spoke of ''''four or five '''' footballs that have been confiscated from individuals by the police recently.

Councillor Phil Bateman said " We can make a difference if we are keen enough to make a difference. There is no reason why anyone should just accept the situation. If the whole community comes together then it can alter attitudes. I want the City Council to come together with the police to do some thing about this behaviour. I want the Education Authority to speak with the local schools to get this issue addressed directly with children. I would like to see the police emphasising that this action will not be allowed. I also want the Youth Service to act with the Youth Workers that are based on Ashmore Park to ask the reasons why this behaviour is taking place.

We know that this action is raising community anger and I would therefore appeal to parents to inform their children that banging a football against shutters or against public assets is a nuisance that could be seen as a crime. Many of those that went to the meeting questioned why anti social behaviour notices were not served on the offenders. Certainly the people living above the shops have to put up with the banging and the thump of footballs and other missiles very regularly.

I am confident that if we can get everybody working together to identify those that are involved then action can be taken. The police have an array of action that they can use, from action through the courts , through to the serving of Anti Social Behaviour Orders and Anti Behavioural Contracts.

Not every young person can be viewed as a nuisance, the vast majority of young people on the estate are well behaved and thoughtful. But those that fall outside this group are making a lot of people very miserable indeed. This behaviour must be addressed."