Tearaways take over at the shops (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Tearaways take over at the shops

SHOPKEEPERS and residents of a Swindon road say they are being intimidated by gangs of youths.

The area around The Circle in Pinehurst is already subject to a dispersal order but local councillors agree that problems persist.

Shopkeepers in the area did not want to be named for fear of reprisals.

One said: "It's a big problem here and it's frightening. There are 10 to 15 kids here sometimes, loitering outside the shop.

"They open the magazines and read them, and if you ask them to leave they swear at you.

"Kids will take a football, put it on the floor, roll it to the door and then kick it out of the shop.

"They got cheese spread and put it on the door handle so that people couldn't get in or out. I think they should be sent to a boot camp."

Another shopkeeper said: "They're an arrogant bunch of low-lifes, but if I gave my name I'd get a brick through my window."

But it's not only the shopkeepers who are concerned.

Les Brown, 79, lives nearby. At the end of the war he was in Singapore rounding up Japanese prisoners, and until his retirement he worked in Swindon's sewers.

He said: "It's got terrible round here.

"But I'm not frightened. I'm a Singapore veteran. They kick footballs deliberately at my hedge. One time I took their ball and a gang of 20 tried to force their way through my gate. They're taking control of the whole shop area. Something has to be done."

A 54-year-old grandmother said: "Customers feel intimidated at the shops and won't go back there.

"You can see lads hanging about, spitting on the floor. Their language is atrocious. It's getting right out of hand and the group is getting bigger."

Coun Maurice Fanning (Lab, Pinehurst and Gorse Hill) said: "There is a problem. I'm in the process of organising a meeting with Inspector Glasgow, the local beat bobby, and the shopkeepers.

"There is a dispersal order in that area, but it means that the police are going to have to enforce it better."

Inspector Willie Glasgow, of Swindon police, said: "There have been a few problems around the Circle.

"We've stepped up patrols and we've been using the dispersal order to move kids on. We've also been visiting parents and seeing if we can work together.

"I'm planning to have a meeting with councillors and other parties to see how we can move forward on this."

David Andrew