Councillor Colin Baker

A problem resolution group called PRIME (PRIME stands for Problem Resolution in a Multi-Agency Environment.) has been established in our Parish chaired by Cllr McEvoy. 

One of the objects of this group is to try to understand the reasons for – and reduce if possible - teenage anti-social behaviour. 

Your local Councillors are made well aware - by yourselves - of where this is happening but Councillors have no powers to take any direct action, we end up asking the Police to do something, just like you do.

The object of PRIME groups is to bring together many differing organisations that can collectively come up with ideas to resolve problems. 

One idea is to create spaces for teenagers to “hang out” which will draw them away from the places we don’t want them to “hang out”, such as shopping precincts; bus shelters and other similar places in the Parish. 

The group is currently looking at Holbury Manor as a place for a “youth shelter”; a covered area with lighting and facilities for basketball hoops etc.

The possibility of having one of these shelters close to you will fill you with apprehension, as most residents will surmise that they will become drug and alcohol dealing centres with regular midnight bottle smashing competitions. 

We know this is happening now in alleyways and under stairways around the Parish. 

It is difficult to police and very few of our near two thousand ten to nineteen year olds, are actually involved in it.  

Youth shelters will not stop it, but they may help youth workers and the Police gain some control over it with some overt and probably covert intervention.

On behalf of the PRIME, I am looking for potential “teenage hang out places” around the Parish with some distance away from residential property if possible, but within teenage walking distance of their “home patch”. 

If you and your teenage sons and daughters have any suggestions please let me know. 

DO NOT FORGET THAT THESE ARE YOUR CHILDREN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. 

I know you will slaughter me with e-mails telling me that these are not your kids causing the problem and – I reckon - 97% of you will be correct; but, as a community of nearly 15,000 people living in 5,700 households in this Parish, 3% of you will be wrong.

I am also contacting the Head Teachers of the Schools that our teenagers attend, hoping they can come up with some ideas.