Uniting to beat the vandals

Councillor Patricia Martinez-Williams, who helped to organise a meeting of interested parties at the police club in Bishop Road, said that the problems were caused by a large number of youths congregating at a local shop, which is open until the late evening.

About 60 residents attended the meeting and Councillor Martinez-Williams, said: "Since the meeting myself and the police have talked with the local authority Trading Standards and the licensing police officer has spoken to businesses in the area. "A meeting has also taken place with one of the shops where staff have experienced a number of problems. The schools, mentioned at the meeting, have also co-operated by asking any young people who hang around the area to be mindful that they are not causing problems and to ensure they stay away from any trouble makers. "By working together we hope that we can stamp out the problems in the community and that as partners we are able to show the less co-operative members of our society that we are not willing to tolerate anti-social behaviour."

Sergeant Bill Clarke, added: "A minority of youths have been making life uncomfortable for local residents and shopkeepers. But I am optimistic that the partnership formed with ward councillors, shopkeepers and residents will go some way to addressing this problem on a long-term basis."At the moment we are looking at using video footage at locations where there are problems with youths and we will use the footage to show parents what their children get up to, and where necessary we will prosecute. I think it is important that parents take responsibility for their children and know where they are and what they doing."

Anyone with information can contact the Incident Management Unit at St Helens on 0151 777 6969, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.