4:03am Sunday 22nd November 2009
By ivor
Last Thursday the Christmas lights were switched on in Wycombe town centre.
It should have been a happy evening with families enjoying the festive illuminations however around 9pm violence broke out in the town centre and police had to step in to restore law and order.
According to reports eggs and bottles were thrown, a police van was damaged and a window in a restaurant was broken.
This must surely be one of the most shameful things to happen in the history of our town.
What does this episode say about our town?
The shenanigans come as no surprise to me indeed I personally stay away from the town centre in the evenings because of the fear of yobbos carrying out acts of mindless violence.
So was this example of anti-social behaviour a one off?
Well even on my lunchtime walks around the town centre I often see the wannabe ASBO brigade practising their skills.
Only this week I was walking down White Hart Street when a man (who appeared drunk) staggered past me swearing for all to hear. His language was so bad I had to cover my ears as he went past.
Further down White Hart Street a vagrant sitting by the street begging started calling out to two young school girls as they passed by. The school girls looked quite worried.
In Church Street I was nearly knocked down by several rascals speeding around on bicycles.
It seems there were plenty of yobs in the town up to mischief but I never saw a single policeman walking around on patrol.
Come to think of it I can't remember the last time I saw a policeman on patrol in the town centre which is amazing as the police station is only a short distance away.
Wycombe has an extensive CCTV system so surely the goings on can be seen in the control room. If so why is nothing being done about them? Is anybody looking at the cameras to see what is happening?
As far as I can see CCTV is useless. The images usually seem to be blurred and the faces of the offenders are pixelated rendering them useless.
Surely it’s time something was done about the unacceptable behaviour taking place in the town centre. Until that happens I fear things will not get better.
Sadly it seems Wycombe is being left to the mercy of the element intent on causing trouble while the decent law abiding citizens have to suffer.
Our town needs a visible deterrent on the streets to make the yobs think twice before starting trouble.
What do you think?
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