RESIDENTS of a community plagued by anti-social behaviour need to “get a grip” on the issue before it becomes “a lot worse”, a former councillor has said.

As reported in the Daily Echo last week, a 58-year-old man from Arne Avenue in Poole collapsed and died after chasing a gang of youths who had been vandalising his van.

Police are currently investigating the death of Graham Green, who suffered from a heart condition.

Locals reacting to the news on social media said they had suffered similar issues with anti-social behaviour by the group.

One woman commented that incidents had been reported to the police, council and parents “so many times” but “nothing can be done because of their age”.

Another Arne Avenue resident said there had been a growing problem with anti-social behaviour this year.

“They need sorting big time […] it has come to a man losing his life because he had to, yet again, try and sort the kids out himself because no-one else will,” she said.

A community meeting is taking place in January so residents can discuss issues with police.

Reports of anti-social behaviour in the area include vandalism and intimidation – some children have even been seen carrying knives.

Tony Trent, a former councillor for Alderney, said the latest spate of anti-social behaviour started in the summer.

“Like the spike the previous summer it involved young people, some pre-teens, from a much wider area than the locality in which the incidents occurred (Branksome East and West Howe were often mentioned). It also came out that not all of these incidents were known to the police, some were appearing mainly on social media,” he said.

“Because the recorded crime in the area is comparatively low, the local police team are often taken out of the area to deal with hot spots like the town centre. When they are not around, the anti-social behaviour peaks.”

According to Mr Trent, “ring leaders” of the gangs had been identified, however their young age has made it difficult for police to deal with them.

Poole Neighbourhood Inspector Andy Edwards told the Daily Echo last week that incidents of anti-social behaviour would be dealt with “robustly”, and extra patrols were being carried out in the area following Mr Green’s death.

Mr Trent said he hoped “all the interested parties are working together to deal with the underlying issues”.

“The police are stretched and need the rest of us – people in the community and the other bodies – to work with them to get a grip on anti-social behaviour before it becomes something a lot worse,” he added.