Police arrest 10 teenagers over Audley allotments arson attacks
POLICE have arrested 10 teenagers in connection with arson attacks on a village allotments – and a further 29 will be visited by officers.
The arrests come after persistent anti-social behaviour in the area during the February half-term holidays saw sheds broken into and equipment set alight. Greenhouses were also smashed and trees uprooted.
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PSCO's on patrol in Audley.
And officers have revealed they are closing in on more young vandals who they believe wreaked havoc at the plots in Audley.
Newcastle Borough Council has revealed it has compiled a list of 29 youngsters involved in causing problems in the area. The authority has sent letters to their homes with police officers also visiting the addresses. Those responsible for ransacking the allotments could be forced to return to the site off Nantwich Road and fix the damage they have caused as part of the police's restorative justice programme.
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Inspector Mark Barlow, of Newcastle police said: "Anti-social behaviour has been increasing in the area for a couple of months but it came to a head during the school break when we had a sustained few nights of kids going to the allotments and causing damage.
"During those incidents it had moved from anti-social behaviour such as hanging around the streets to arson and criminal damage."
Bert Proctor, chairman of Audley Parish Council, said: "We have had anti-social behaviour sporadically on and off but those 10 nights caused a lot of issues. Along with arson there have been thefts. They took CCTV cameras from the community centre along with signs for disabled parking at the facility.
"It is good news that the police have made the arrests and that will only act as a deterrent."
Everyone on the council's list of suspects will be required to sign an 'acceptable behaviour contract' with their parents or guardians.
If that is breached they could be hit with an anti-social behaviour order.
Councillor Tony Kearon, cabinet member for safer communities, said, "Newcastle-Borough Council has been working closely with residents, community groups and agencies in the Audley area to come up with effective and lasting solutions to the anti-social behaviour that has occurred there recently."
Such is the extent of the issues involving troublesome youngsters, police have now dedicated two officers to the Audley area along with stepping up patrols around the known hot-spots.
Inspector Barlow says a number of youngsters are being dropped off in the area by their parents.
He said: "The message that we have for those who have yet to come forward is that we will be knocking on their door very soon."
8 Comments
by Backdoored
Thursday, March 14 2013, 10:18AM
“Thanks for the extra info' and insight re the general 'catchment area' of n'er do wells. Fully agree with you.
Part of any restorative 'punishment' would perhaps get them 'washing and restoring' babies' nappies -to their whiter than white former glory.... To go as a reminder of just how 'mature' they are.
Any pressure that is there to put on parents and governors alike -must be brought into the equation. Adults, at the end of the day -are those responsible. That's where the buck stops.
William Golding”
by gormhenghast
Thursday, March 14 2013, 6:58AM
“@backdoored were it so simple ark, I think the demographics of the group involved are not entirely made up of Audley`s little darlings, they seem to be dropped of by parents in their sleek designer beamers and the like from all over the place, some bus in from Silverdale, Clayton,Madeley, Chesterton, Water Hayes etc. the common denominator seems to be the local High School. To resolve some of the problems the responsibility of the school governors in allowing the school to take on so many kids from outside of Audley who have been expelled for whatever reason arrive with extra funding and still carrying the luggage of why they were expelled from their previous school. This financially induced philanthropic act has got to cease the disruption in the community is to much to tolerate any more, the kids in the school must be suffering too, I know of several who have left to go to other schools through issues of bullying and racism, and much as the school has success with dealing with the perpetrators by expelling these kids, mores the pity that they were allowed into the school in the first place, that is with their funding of course.
As to dealing with the kids restorative reparation by the kids and as suggested by the Police and others will not work, I hope the Police and Council who own the Allotments will be pursueing where proven these idiots parents for FULL compensation for the damage they have wreaked upon the allotment holders, I do not think that having a surly teenager helping any where near victims of crime with hand tools that resemble medieval battle accoutrements is conducive to the health and safety of the little darlings from where ever they come from....................or where ever they may end up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
by Backdoored
Sunday, March 10 2013, 10:05PM
“When the cat's away... The mice will play.”
by yamahaman
Sunday, March 10 2013, 7:03PM
“It was not that long ago that Audley had its own police station and officers, would the situation have been any different if that level of service was still there? The closure of local police stations and moving staff will do nothing to enhance the "feel safe" situation that the powers that be keep pushing, its not rocket science.”
by Backdoored
Saturday, March 09 2013, 9:26PM
“by jiggajagga
""The devil finds work for idle hands". If they had full time jobs they would be too tired to wreck other peoples belongings." -Unquote.
Errm..... I can just see the Sentinel Court Report now.... "Defence Barrister, offering mitigation, told the court (quote) -"It was only to be expected of these noble young men, Audley's best, that while waiting for a job to come along, they would entertain themselves by 'taking it out on the neighbour's property'. On those grounds -he pleaded for leniency.
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by jokerjohnny
Saturday, March 09 2013, 9:05PM
“Its the tories fault,bring back Brown and Blair.More jobs and less crime.”
by jiggajagga
Saturday, March 09 2013, 3:56PM
“"The devil finds work for idle hands". If they had full time jobs they would be too tired to wreck other peoples belongings.”
by focusboy
Saturday, March 09 2013, 2:00PM
“They should be made to restore the allotments and their parents should be made to pay for it.”