Residents will band together after trouble

Residents will band together after trouble

10 October 2012 - by BY DAVID TELFORD

FRUSTRATED residents at the Knocknashinna estate in Downpatrick have expressed an interest in forming a new community group to combat anti-social behaviour in the area.

Agreement to form a group to provide residents with direct access to key decision makers with a range of statutory organisations came during a special meeting last week.

Over 30 residents were in attendance to outline their mounting concerns about local youths causing trouble and the belligerent attitude they adopt when challenged by police and people who live in the area.

The meeting at the De La Salle High School was attended by local police, officials from the Co. Down Rural Community Network and the district’s Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP).

Residents said while Down Council’s new playground at Knocknashinna is a magnet for troublemakers, rowdy youths have also smashed car windows and those in homes across the estate. Bottles of drink have also been hidden in people’s hedges which youths are also damaging.

Residents said the trouble, which is prevalent at weekends, comes in two separate waves and that different people are involved. One resident said trouble flares between 8.30pm and 10.30pm and then reignites later in the evening or during the early hours.

Houses are being pelted with stones and eggs, youths are verbally abusing residents with one woman describing the situation as “horrendous.”

“People are afraid to open their blinds while others won’t venture out at night in case their windows are put in while they are away. The trouble is frightening. Those responsible for this mayhem have no fear,” she said.

Other residents expressed frustration at what they described as the “lack of action to deal with the troublemakers” with one resident declaring many in Knocknashinna are “at the end of their tether.”

He added: “It appears that absolutely nothing is being done about this problem and when we do contact police the attitude of the person on the other end of the phone is unsympathetic.”

One resident who has lived at the estate for over 40 years said he blamed the parents of the youths responsible for causing the trouble and that they “need to be held to account.”

Calls were also issued for increased police patrols in the Knocknashinna area, with others suggesting Down Council needs to look at the design of its playgrounds to prevent them from becoming magnets for young people to congregate and cause trouble. One man said the Knocknashinna playground should be locked.

PSNI Neighbourhood officer Caroline Owens said she understood residents’ frustrations and said 19 young people have been warned about their behaviour in the Knocknashinna area since last July with warning letters issued to six and an anti-social behaviour order processed for one.

She highlighted the importance of police having evidence and encouraged people to come forward, assuring information they provide would be in confidence.

“One of the fears people have is being the person who comes forward and speaks out. If you know who is responsible for causing trouble pass the information to us. No one else will know,” said the police officer.