Teenaged gang's brick backlash (From Free Press Series)

Teenaged gang's brick backlash

PEOPLE in Rogiet who complained about youths jumping up and down on cars had the windows broken in retaliation.

Teenagers were spotted jumping up and down on the bonnet of a car belonging to one Rogiet resident a few weeks ago. They were asked to stop, but later came back and put a brick through the car window.

It has been reported that gangs of teenagers are congregating in the village during the evening and are responsible for a number of incidents of anti-social behaviour.

These include damage to Rogiet church hall, disruption to classes and events where youths pester the participants, and altercations in nearby streets.

In one incident, an aerobics class held in the church hall had to be abandoned after youths harassed those who attended.

The local council member, Cllr Gerald Robbins, told members of the Monmouthshire county environmental select committee that Gwent Police tried to respond to every call, but they were sometimes faced with a dilemma.

"You ring up the police but what can they do when they are faced with a choice of attending a possible grievous bodily harm incident or someone causing a row? They have no choice because the grievous bodily harm could end in a death."

Cllr Robbins has emphasised the importance of the new community police officers in Rogiet who are effective in dealing with a small minority of troublemakers.

Cllr Robbins said: "The importance of CPOs is that they have reduced some of the problems. It is important that when these events are taking place in the village, they are there to see that the trouble is reduced."

Members of the committee were considering their report on policing throughout Monmouthshire after a number of issues were raised last year.

Specific concerns included phone calls not being answered in local stations, the effectiveness of Neighbourhood Watch and the lack of police officers on the beat.

The object of their inquiry was to investigate how phone calls are dealt with, to investigate policing levels and highlight improvements which can be made to working with the police in partnership.

The concerns were highlighted after two armed robberies in Usk; the lack of police officers in Monmouth which meant there was no night shift working for several months; and a number of complaints from members of the public about the efficiency of handling telephone calls.

The committee agreed to recommend to the cabinet that Gwent Police be supported in developing Neighbourhood Watch schemes in Monmouthshire, including the extension of the Talk Line system.

Cllr Robbins said the second recommendation that Gwent Police should educate the public more in when to use the emergency 999 number should include police officers meeting people in schools, youth centres and talking to local groups.

It was also agreed to ask the cabinet to look at providing further resources to enhance their Community Safety Partnership which supports the work of REDPOP groups throughout the county.