The Packed Taw Hill Public Meeting
The parents of the gang of youths terrorising Taw Hill can expect a knock on the door from the long arm of the law.
More than 50 residents turned out to a meeting last night calling for a crackdown on youths congregating in the area, drinking, smoking cannabis, riding mini-motos and vandalising the area.
The residents complained of groups of up to 80 youths loitering in the area. One resident had had a graffiti tag sprayed on their brick fence.
Ward councillor Justin Tomlinson called on the police and the council's own anti-social behaviour team to sort out the problems.
Police support officer Dave Gallagher said he was compiling a report calling for a dispersal order for the area.
The force will also hand-deliver letters to parents of identified troublemakers, informing them of the anti-social behaviour and urging them to sort it out.
Council anti-social behaviour unit manager Cheri Wright said the council would also consider acceptable behaviour contracts - the precursor to Asbos - for any yobs that did not start to behave.
The meeting also called on the Co-op supermarket to make it harder for young people to buy alcohol in the area.
Coun Tomlinson (Con, Abbey Meads) said residents had complained that underage drinkers were being supplied by friends old enough to buy liquor legally.
The meeting called on the Co-op to raise its legal sale age to 21 to help stamp out the problem.
Store manager Chris Harris said the shop had a very tough alcohol policy, with young people having to show identification proving they were old enough to buy alcohol or cigarettes.
He said he had personally instigated a limit on sales, with tight limits put on the amount alcohol young people could buy.
Mr Harris said he would suggest the 21-and-over limit to Co-op management.
He said the shop wanted the anti-social behaviour stamped out as much as anyone.
"I can see over a period of time we are losing sales because of the yobs," Mr Harris said.
"I lose a lot of custom in the evenings. It's something everyone has to tackle."
Swindon Youth Service director Tim Mason said he supported dispersing the troublemakers but the council still wanted to offer local teenagers things to do.
He said he would investigate offering youth activities in the St Francis C of E Primary School.
Swindon Advertiser 26/09/06