Fires spark yob crime rise

Annabel Williams • Published 17 Dec 2009 09:00 0 Comments

Youths in woodland cause distress

SCHOOL children using aerosols to start fires in woodland are contributing to a small rise in anti-social behaviour across all three Caversham police areas, latest figures show.

Anti-social behaviour was up in the Lower Caversham neighbourhood from 45 incidents in October last year to 47 in the same month this year, while reports in the North Caversham neighbourhood have increased from 16 to 19. In West Caversham there were 15 reports - one more.

Community Support Officer John Hendy said: "Anti-social behaviour is very much in the public eye at the moment and in Caversham we are committed to catching those who make our residents' lives more difficult."

While a youth dispersal order centring on P&A Stores in Nire Road has had a "noticeable impact" in the area, residents' lives are being made a misery in Badgers Rise, Briar Close and Grove Hill by young people setting fire to aerosol cans in Beech Wood. One blaze had to be put out by firefighters.

PCSO Hendy said: "The dangers to members of the public, property and the offenders in this type of activity are obvious and we need to get to the bottom of it fast.

"The suspects are dressed in school uniform and we are continuing to work with the schools to identify offenders.

"If you have any information, please let us know before someone gets seriously hurt. This area is receiving more patrols."

But the team has had some success deterring youths from throwing stones and debris into back gardens from an alleyway off Chiltern Road.

PCSO Hendy said: "We are working with Reading Borough Council and residents to look at solutions, including possibly gating the alleyway off. The team has also increased patrols."

The team has also responded to calls of suspected drug dealing and cars revving their engines, wheel spinning, racing and playing loud music in Mapledurham playing fields' car park.

Tweet

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 17 Dec 09

Post a comment

Your Comment:

Registered users log in here

Username or email

Password

If you are registered with us, you can login here. If you are not registered, do so now.
Once logged in you wont have to complete word verification each time you post.

Prefer not to register?

Screen Name *required

Email (not displayed) *required

Usernames must be 4 - 20 characters. Registration only takes a few minutes. Registered users can also take part in competitions and other features of the site.

Word Verification:
Enter the text as shown.

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.

Follow @rdgchronicle