Gangs run riot on estate

4:21pm Saturday 27th September 2008

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GANGS of children as young as 12 years old are running riot on a Trowbridge estate causing misery for residents living there.

In the latest incident on the Longfield estate, groups of up to 50 kids ripped down a row of metal railings and brick pillars outside the Longfield Community Centre.

Residents say the children regularly drink to excess, throw bottles, stones and bricks up on to the roof of the centre and even climb up there.

Over the past year £2,500 worth of damage has been caused to the centre and the town council, which owns the building, is resorting to putting rubber tiles on the roof.

Chairman of Longmeadow Tenants and Residents Association, James McDonald, who lives near the community centre, said: "On Friday night there were about 40-50 kids out there. Not just from this estate but from Studley Green and Seymour too.

"They had all been drinking, they were all very drunk to be honest, and were screaming and shouting.

"They then started verbally abusing some of the residents, smashing bottles and fighting.

"The police were called by several people and came out twice but all they did was take names and pour their drinks away both times.

"Then on Saturday night I heard an almighty crash.

"A group of kids were pushing over the brick wall and railings on the green. It's secured by brick pillars and they had knocked three of the pillars over.

"They are running riot. That's criminal damage.

"Half of them ran off when I went out there but some of them stayed back.

"All the police do is take their names, there is no pressure put on them to find out who it is. It's always the same."

Another rail and brick pillar were pulled down on Tuesday night.

Mr McDonald said although the area has two PCSOs, they cover a large area and there is no beat manager or permanent police officer assigned to the Longfield estate.

The TARA, which has been going for two years, runs several youth clubs for children on the estate including computer clubs, and football clubs, and it is trying to start up a dance club for the girls.

"We are doing as much as we can but you are left out there with no back up from the police," Mr McDonald said.

"The residents and tenants are fed up with people saying letters are being sent to these kids' parents, what we want to see is action as it is affecting not just the area but us as well."

At the Trowbridge Neighbourhood Meeting of all the TARAS in the town on Monday, the group decided to write to chief constable Brian Moore to find out why more action has not been taken.

Cllr Jeff Osborn, who was at the meeting, said: "The longer it goes on the worse it's going to get because the kids think they're untouchable."

Inspector Dave Cullop said: "The Longfield issue has been going on for months and we are dealing with children down to the age of five or six who are causing problems.

"We have a diverse community on the Longfield estate, many of them are young families so there are a lot of young people living there. We have got to get the the root of how those young people are engaged."

He said various agencies were responding to the problems, by launching parenting classes for example, and the police were increasing their visibility on the estate.

Anyone with information about the latest incidents should contact the police on 0845 408 7000.