Put blame on parents and police

I told the police at various meetings that this area was becoming a 'no go' area even then.

Who do we blame for this behaviour? There are two areas at fault: parents and the police. The parents for not knowing where their children are or what they are doing and the police, who seem afraid to do anything about the problems.

I have first-hand knowledge of how the police react to a gang confrontation -- they prefer to let them go, rather than taking them off the streets. It is easier to turn their backs and blame the residents for antagonising the youths rather than deal with them.

You have to live in the area night after night and have your streets turned into no go areas because you dare not go out and ask them to move on for fear of being arrested, which is what happened in my family's case.

I moved out of the area because I had had enough. I had video evidence of crimes being committed but still nothing was done. I still have family living in the area who have been threatened by these youths, some of whom are girls.

A girl put her hand through a double glazed window and when her description was given to the police, the officer asked if they had got the girl's name. He then went on to say they could do nothing without a name, yet they had a full description of the offender.

Our police are there to protect the public and uphold the law. If they cannot do that and protect us, then they should make way for those officers who can.

Parents, too, have a responsibility, they should know where their children are and who they are with. If they are told that their child is involved in unacceptable behaviour they should do something about it.

Parenting skills should be taught in schools and there should be compulsory parenting given to those parents with children who are causing a nuisance.

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