Action Taken Against 31 Youths!

On the 21st February I wrote on this web site about how pleased I was that the Police and Wolverhampton City Council with Wolverhampton Homes were working in partnership to tackle the problems of vandalism and anti social behaviour.

I said then that I wanted to praise them for the way that the partnership was working.

Through-out the winter I had criticised the Police and the Authorities for not providing enough information to my constituents about the activity taking place to curb the criminal damage and anti social behaviour that had become a feature on Ashmore Park.

I went onto praise the 'exceptional work' that together the 'partnership' had developed and the success of that work could be recognised by the operation taken against the 31 individual youths that have been identified and now action was to take place against them.

Also within that large group of 31 individuals there were a cohort of 16 key perpetrators of youth nuisance that had been contacted requesting that the parent or guardian attend interviews.

I have been following up on that information I posted in February and I am now in a position to release more information relating to the progress the 'partnership' is making. I think that as your local Councillor this is a very important part of my duties, keeping constituents informed of major developments like this operation.

Specially trained Anti Social Behaviour Officers from Wolverhampton Homes and the City Council's Anti Social Behaviour Unit have now interviewed 15 of the 16 who were part of the original 31 youths police named as being most prominent.

Most of these youths interviwed did not reside in council properties.

The 16 were identified by police as being those the officials should perhaps interview as they were either cautioned, encountered or escorted home under the influence of alcohol.

Officers spent up to an hour with each youth and their parent's, and discussed the implication of their behaviour on local residents, and warned them in no uncertain terms that Anti- Social Behaviour Orders would be applied for if evidence of further nuisance was forthcoming.

Most interviews were positive, with diversionary activity being discussed with each, and several referrals being made. I have been informed that most youths and parents were very constructive and reasonable, in contrast to similar operations these officials have carried out in other parts of the city.

One youth unfortunately went on the same night as they interviewed him, to cause nuisance in the local library, and since then he has been signed up to an Acceptable Behaviour Contract .

The police inform that it has been somewhat quieter, although neither City Officials or the Police would suggest the problem of youth nuisance has been solved.

The Police have been asked to provide names/addresses of youths causing nuisance on an ongoing basis, so City Officials can repeat this exercise.

Intelligence has also been gathered relating to the sale of the alcohol, from these interviews. That intelligence information will be used by the police and trading standards as they wrestle with the problem of stores selling alcohol to underage youngsters.

I for my part believe that this action will pay dividends in the meduim to long term. The fact that the action has identified that the majority of culprits were local youths coming from owner occupiers property will raise a few eye brows, as the 'gossip' had these youngsters coming from outside the area.