‘We felt intimidated by gang’s behaviour’ (From Bournemouth Echo)
When news happens text pix and video to 80360. Start your message with BE then leave a space.
Full offer details and tokens inside your Daily Echo this week 
Daily Echo on FacebookAll of today's content from across the site, all in one place at bournemouthecho.co.uk/today
‘We felt intimidated by gang’s behaviour’
7:30am Wednesday 17th March 2010 in
YOUNG people in Canford Heath told police they felt “intimidated” by gangs of youths, months before a 16-year-old had his jaw shattered in a brutal attack.
But a mobile CCTV camera, which might have prevented the assault, is not due to be installed until Friday.
The incident last Friday involved a gang of up to 20 people with their faces covered by hoodies and scarves.
They surrounded three 16-year-olds, one of whom was punched so hard it broke his jaw in two places.
The violence has shocked the community, where antisocial behaviour is down by almost a quarter to date this year compared with 2009.
But teenagers themselves had warned of the potential at the end of last year in 100 ‘face to face’ surveys gathered by the Canford Heath Safer Neighbourhood team in November and December.
Sergeant Andy Jenkins said: “One issue that was raised was different groups.
“You are always going to get that when you have a large amount of young people, you always end up with different groups. Some of them felt intimidated.”
Canford Heath ward councillor Sandra Moore was at the special safer neighbourhood meeting for young people last November.
She said: “The kids were actually concerned about young people from outside the area coming down to Canford Heath and intimidating them.”
Since the issue was raised police have targeted resources at Verity Park, which is already the focus of a number of youth projects.
And the mobile CCTV camera being installed there this week will feed into the monitoring centre at Poole Civic Centre, which has a direct radio link to the police.
Sgt Jenkins said: “If operators pick up signs of tensions rising they can give us a warning and we can get down there before the problem starts.”
He added there was a “very good bond” between young people of Canford Heath and the local beat team, which he hoped would lead to information on Friday’s assault.
Comments(2)
A Council Worker
says...
5:54pm Wed 17 Mar 10
More News stories
- Pensioner dies after four-car collision on A31
- Drivers hit with road closures at Canford Bottom roundabout
- Lantern Community aiming to raise £800k for planned new craft centre
- Bournemouth singer invited to perform for family of otters
- Mudeford schoolboy scoops top friend award from Dick and Dom
- New 62-apartment scheme could be approved at Leyton Mount car park site
- Worshippers delighted with new £1,250,000 hall at Bournemouth church
- Puppet Festival and workshop proves a hit at Lighthouse
- Father and son team from Bournemouth take on skydive
- Bournemouth council considering buying more homes in Boscombe
Most popular
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
visionthing says...
5:02pm Wed 17 Mar 10
In the park at Sherbouren avenue the seat and bins ahve been replaced 3 times this year the mst recent being last week and it has now been removed after being completely vandalised by the youths.
The policing of canford health is non exsitant, i know this because i live there and walk my dogs three times a day in those area's. Burnt out cars, broken bottles gangs of upto 20 youths on most evenings....me i'm not intimidated, however the youths know the law and know if they are under 18, that if i retaliated or took proactive action, it is me that would get arrested - however they have failed to explain that to my dogs who take great exception to them surrounding me.