FRIGHTENED old folk in Rishton are scared to go out at night because of menacing and abusive gangs of youths, claims a resident.

Frank Lamb, 70, told Hyndburn police and community forum how he was threatened by a gang of beer-drinking youths, some as young as nine, near the library.

Further down the road on his way to Camera Club at Norden High School, he was accosted by three youths drinking in a shop doorway.

And on his next visit to the club he was confronted by a mob of at least 40 juveniles on the corner of Henry Street.

Mr Lamb said: "People of my age, especially women, won't budge from their houses at night, and as soon as it gets dark won't answer the door to anyone.

"Surely Rishton can be made a place where people are not frightened to walk out at night."

Inspector John Pennington, of Great Harwood police, said the perception of violent crime was worse than the reality, and no more violent crimes had been recorded in Rishton in the first part of this year compared with last year. "It's the fear of it we need to address and make people aware the streets are fairly safe, they just don't feel that way to some people."

He appealed to young people to be aware that when they stand in large groups they are frightening and intimidating to others.

And he asked the general public to try and feel that most of them probably don't mean any harm.

Acting Chief Inspector Bob Ford said police were working with other agencies on innovative ways of diverting youngsters away from street corners into sports and other pursuits.

But parents also had a responsibility in combating juvenile nuisance.

He said: "We are finding increasingly that parents either do not know what their youngsters are up to or if they do know, don't care."

Under a recent scheme on the second occasion the same child is spoken to about juvenile nuisance police are sending a letter to parents.

Acting Ch Insp Ford said: "It is not for us solely to put right society's ills. We are trying hard."

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