Laura, Hebburn
I LIVE IN THE SOUTH TYNESIDE AREA OF HEBBURN, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SEVERAL GANGS WHICH HANG AROUND THE STREETS AND SHOPPING CENTRE, THEY DO NOT COMMIT AS MUCH CRIME AS PEOPLE SAY THEY DO.
I BELIEVE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE A SCAPEGOAT FOR CRIME AND ARE BLAMED FOR FAR MORE THINGS THAN THEY REALLY COMMIT.
Andy, Chester-le-Street
You never see police on the beat. It is not safe to go out after dark. The gangs of kids have the upper hand. If you confront them over their behaviour, they just laugh at you. You are powerless to do anything and the police are too busy to bother with low level disturbances. Especially on a weekend.
Joyce, Gateshead
I moved to wardley to try to get away from an antisocial family who lived near me.after several years of complaints to gateshead council and the police.keeping diaries nothing came of the complaints.There were other families making complaints at the same time.There were meetings with,police, councillors,gateshead council and local MP but it came to nothing.I have no confidence in any of the agencies concerned.
Teacher T, South Shields
I am fortunate that I live on a good social housing estate. I also work as a supply teacher, usually in the worst, failing schools. However I rarely venture out after dark. The kids need opportunities and facilities to focus their energy, which don't exist. The problem is the "Consumer society", must have those trainers etc, and the willingness of councils to allow Off Sale Licences to flourish willy nilly, especially on sink estates. This is about poverty, parents who have never worked and kids who never will either. So why should they care?
Kath, Berwick-upon-Tweed
The only serious antisocial behaviour where I live is car drivers speeding through quiet streets where children play and past my child's primary school. If that isn't antisocial I don't know what is but it just seems not to get as much attention as relatively trivial stuff.
L, Newcastle
I work in Jesmond and on arriving at work this morning I encountered two of the most drunken, aggressive girls . It was 8.45am.
Mark, Sunderland
I was walking along an alleyway near the forge halls of residents, Sunderland and beaten up by a group of youths. I was not badly hurt but a person came out of houses near by and called police. Since that day I get panic attacks when see group of youths and no longer go out jogging at night as do not feel safe.
David, Chester-le-Street
Every night there are youths hanging around outside shops, in bus stops, in alleyways where I live in Pelton. It is a worrying sight but in all honesty, they don't commit any crimes or behave anti-socially, in their defence I think they're just bored as there is nothing to do and no where to go out there. I've experienced more anti-social behaviour from my next door neighbour than I have with the local kids.
Jill, Sunderland
Does anybody really think, that a such a (surely well meant) initiative is going to change just one thug's mind about causing mayhem? As long as offenders get away with just a "slap on the wrist" the attitude will only get worse. These kids are just a mirror of our society with a lack of morals, virtues and respect. They all know their rights, but are more than happy to ignore any responsibility.
Yvonne, Sunderland
I don't think that things are too bad compared with the time when you were constantly getting your car nicked... how many of these so called "gangs" are actually sticking together for their own protection?
Michael
Antisocial behaviour is bad enough in West Harton but South Tyneside's inability to clean up mess and vandalism left behind is a further problem.
Peter, Gateshead
I LIVE [IN] BENSHAM AND MY TWO BIGGEST COMPLAINTS ARE GROUPS OF YOUTHS LATE AT NIGHT AT WEEKENDS AND SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AND THE ABUNDANCE OF LITTER IN THIS AREA. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE SUPPOSED PRESENCE OF BEAT POLICE AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICERS WHICH ARE NON-EXISTENT IN BENSHAM.
