CCTV for Marlow residents blighted by yobs (From Bucks Free Press)

CCTV for Marlow residents blighted by yobs

5:00pm Monday 4th February 2013 in News By James Nadal

CCTV for Marlow residents blighted by yobs

NEW CCTV cameras are one of a number of measures proposed in a plan for overcoming a problem with anti-social youths in a part of Marlow.

The surveillance footage devices could be installed around the Gunthorpe Road area after requests from residents.

A dispersal zone was in force from March to November last year, which gave police the power to ban suspected troublemakers from the area for up to 48 hours.

Red Kite Community Housing told the MFP that it is actively considering making a contribution to buying cameras, if that is what tenants decide they want to spend money on.

There is a mixture of former council houses and private homes.

Police are looking at CCTV as part of the solution going forward, a report created by Dr David O’Halloran, from Mediation Bucks, states.

The mediator said last week he is encouraged that reports of anti-social behaviour have fallen since his work with the youths began in November.

He said in his report: "Conversations with the youths revealed many of them to be friends who live and go to school in the area, and meet with other friends locally.

"Several of the youths are the children of the residents who are subjected to the harassment.

"They are aware that youths from outside the area make occasional visits to Gunthorpe Road and befriend, influence and coerce more vulnerable local youths into anti-social activities."

The teenagers turned down a meeting with police but compiled questions to give officers, and Dr O'Halloran said this was a positive move towards better relations.

He said: "These are early days in this ambitious project and there is still more work to do to restore confidence within the community."

Inspector Ray Wilks said: "The number of calls is drastically down, it's a combination of things and it doesn't mean to say we'll rest on our laurels."

Dr O'Halloran believes the dispersal order was counterproductive but Insp Wilks said: "At the end of the day we were there looking to solve a problem in the area and used any means in our disposal.

"We made good use of it and it had an effect on the number of calls we had. We continue to patrol the area."

Action planned in the report:

• Funding pledged for a fayre, to introduce the youth and the community to the many clubs and societies that already exist in the area.

• Youth workers Matt Woolley and Suzanne Osborne have made great inroads in meeting up weekly with youths in the area. Evening work on the ‘donkey field’ location is now made possible by the provision of mobile flood lighting.

• Discussions have taken place with Street Dreams charity to explore how they could act as an extended family to disadvantaged, disengaged and disruptive young people

• The county council Chilterns and Marlow Local Area Forum is funding a street sports project which is now underway and is currently recruiting young people in the area to qualify with a level one coaching qualification and a first aid certificate.

• The charity Addaction has also been invited to help those individuals who are struggling with drugs or alcohol issues.

• A 'youthspace' bus targeting young people who are not in education, employment or training to help with letter writing and cv construction as well as other skills.

• The Marlow Youth Centre has proposed to extend opening times

• MCF Community Church have renovated and equipped a double decker bus with games consoles and plasma screens.

• River Church and MCF Community Church are also planning a new youth club on Thursday evenings from February 28

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