Troublemakers to behave (From Gazette Series)

Troublemakers to behave

A GROUP of young troublemakers and their parents have signed up to an agreement designed to cut down on vandalism and disorder in their communities.

Four boys aged between 12 and 16, and their parents, have signed a three-month behaviour agreement with the police in an attempt to curb anti-social behaviour.

PC George Sharp told Berkeley Town Council last week: "We are taking a hard line on this. I am not saying it is going to stop all the problems but it will make people think."

The conditions of the agreement instruct the boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, not to be on the streets of Berkeley or Sharpness after 9pm on any day unless their parents accompany them.

They must also be on good behaviour at all other times when in a public place.

Breaching the agreement will allow the police to apply for a full anti-social behaviour order, which could totally ban the offender from a particular area.

PC Sharp added: "I will be visiting the boys' houses to make sure that they are at home when they are supposed to be."

The agreements are the first to be imposed in Berkeley, although similar orders have been given to youngsters in Dursley.

Sgt Colin Ford said: "This type of agreement does reduce anti-social behaviour."

In a meeting dominated by the issue of disorder, councillors also voted to remove the bench by the town hall on weekend nights for a trial period.

PC Sharp strongly advised councillors to try moving the bench indoors during the night as it is seen as a meeting point for rowdy youths.

However, Cllr John Freeland was insistent that the bench was not the problem.

He said: "The problem is the kids, lack of parental control and, dare I say it, lack of policing.

"I'm afraid that if we simply remove the bench then the problem will go elsewhere."

Residents present at the meeting also made it clear that as well as the younger teenagers, there was a separate group of older teenagers who were responsible for keeping residents awake at weekends.

One resident told the council: "The real nasty element that are doing the damage in the town are the drunken people coming out of the pubs."

The council is examining the cost of CCTV cameras for the town centre with a view to spending around £5,000 on the project.

Chairman Cllr Ralph Pinnell said: "I hate the thought of cameras in our little town but we have got to stop these problems."

A working group involving SDC, town councillors, the police and local residents is to be set up to investigate the matter.