Page 6 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • April 2005

BLAYLOCKS Yob behaviour not to be tolerated
as new actionline is launched
SWINDON'S FAMILY
SHOE SHOP
Est. 1920 Rowdy behaviour, intimidation and harassment, litter, rubbish, fly tipping. graffiti,
abandoned vehicles, nuisance neighbours, drug dealing. prostitution. If one of these issues
Black or tan leather is causing you aggravation, call the new local rate hotline number 0845 605 2222
Sizes 37-42, to speak to Swindon Council's crime and disorder team.
£40
Swindon is one of 25 Together Action Areas around the country where the'It's Your Call' actionline has
Tan leather been set up to offer people a rapid way of reporting problems and to give the police the evidence base
Sizes 40-47. £40 for dispersal orders which make it illegal for groups to gather in public spaces, if the police consider
behaviour is threatening.
rieker Louise Casey, head of the Home current dispersal order in force at South Swindon MP Julia Drown
Office Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, the centre was having the desired said, "it's shocking what has been
BLAYLOCKS called into Freshbrook Village Cen- effect. She also watched Swindon happening to some people in
Bath Road Corner, O!d Town tre on 28 February to find out from Council's graffiti busting team in Freshbrook. The measures intro-
Ted: 534271 residents and shop keepers if the action on the community centre. duced by the Government is de-
She was told that the village cen- signed to help communities to get
tre had always been a gathering on top of these problems."
point for teenagers but behaviour Community centre bar licensee
had been steadily going downhill Arno Morsink, who has been in-
over the last few years. volved in the building since it

Cheri Wright, Swindon Council's Anti Social Behaviour Coordinator, Joan Fox
6ri."s0rw1I 1IIIs from Elsie Hazel Court, Sue Tilley from the crime and disorder team, Eileen Clarke
Residents from nearby Elsie opened 20 years ago, said behav-
Hazel Court group dwelling said iour had been getting worse. "In
they were too afraid to go out in the past nobody has minded teen-
the evening and had eggs, stones agers sitting around the village cen-
and bags of dogs mess thrown at tre, but too often nowadays they
windows. get abusive and threatening. There
Staff from Hair Works salon said used to be a youth club in the cen-
they felt intimidated leaving work tre, but we just can't let them in the
and community centre staff said building nowadays.
they were regularly abused by "There have been fewer prob-
young people banned from enter- lems since the dispersal order
ing the building. started, but we need it kept in place
Ms Casey was told that behav- until young people understand
iour had improved since a disper- that the whole community has to
sal order was introduced in Octo- share the village centre."
ber and an anti-social behaviour He hopes that Swindon Council
order (ASBO) was imposed on 16 will quickly improve the CCTV
Whether it's a cut, colour or re-style, year old Leon Morris, excluding equipment at the village centre to
him from the vil- record what is
our professional and highly skilled team'
lage centre. She going on.
will assist you in achieving the look said, "I'm pleased DaveMullard,
you've always wanted! that these measures warden of Elsie
are having an ef- Hazel Court,
fect," said Ms said, "nobody
For an appointment or free consultation Casey. "Unaccept- has actually been
call 874825 now! able behaviour has attacked but
been tolerated for there has been
Open: Tuesday & Wednesday; 9am-6pm too long; I'm en- rowdy behav-
couraged that iour and stone
Thursday & Friday; 9am - 7pm Saturday; 8.30am-3.30
Swindon is taking throwing which
steps to use the creates fear of
Shaw Village Centre, Shaw, Swindo anti-social behav- crime which is
iour legislation." not acceptable."