Look what thugs are doing now (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Look what thugs are doing now

74466-53A DANGEROUS craze has hit Rodbourne Cheney. Teenage tearaways have been hurling sharpened arrows around, raising fears that someone could be seriously injured.

The 18-inch long darts are made from bamboo sticks, with cardboard flights, and are launched by a handheld rope.

Two have been thrown at the Rodbourne Cheney Working Men's Club in Moredon Road.

Secretary Pete Butcher is worried about the situation.

He said: "The tips can be made really sharp, and could easily cause a serious eye injury.

"If the right weights are put on them, they can easily travel for 100 yards."

The club finds itself under siege from gangs of unruly yobs every weekend, and this is the latest in a long line of problems, said Mr Butcher.

Up to 60 rowdy youths gather outside the Moredon Road club at weekends, drinking and openly smoking cannabis.

Mr Butcher says he has seen girls as young as 10 getting drunk there.

The older ones hurl abuse and spit at club members and passers-by.

Many members have simply given up visiting, and Mr Butcher estimates he is losing £1,000 a week in lost trade.

At Christmas, the police renewed a dispersal order covering the area around the club a trouble hotspot.

But Mr Butcher says the louts play a game of cat and mouse with the police.

"They scarper when the police come, but when they go, they're back again," he said.

"They know the police have other jobs to go to."

The dispersal orders give officers the power the split up gangs of troublemakers.

Swindon police are appealing for information about the arrow throwers.

Spokesman Alvina Kumar said: "This type of anti-social behaviour is reckless and totally unacceptable.

"It's only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt by one of these arrows. It could even be a child.

"If anyone knows the identity of these youths, please call us on 01793 528111."

Tamash Lal