Littleham residents invited to police drop-in sessions

RESIDENTS are invited to attend a consultation to give their views on how the introduction of dispersal orders in Littleham has impacted on reducing anti-social behaviour.

The police neighbourhood team will hold drop-in sessions at Clayton House Community Centre, in Salterton Road, for residents to attend next Tuesday, November 10.

Nikki Payne, police community support officer, said it was an opportunity for people to let the team know if problems were still arising in the area.

Part of the village was plagued with problems from gangs of youths throughout the summer, with Liverton Close and Midway singled out as particular trouble black spots.

A 53-year-old mother, speaking to the Journal last September, said she took the desperate measure of installing CCTV at her home after a gang started to bully her son and threatened to pour petrol over him.

And, in separate incidents, a Liverton Close resident explained how a recycle bin was set on fire outside his property and one of his neighbours had obscene language scrawled in blood on her gate.

Speaking about the drop-in sessions next week, PCSO Payne said: "It is important for us to know what interventions have been most effective and your feedback is invaluable."

The consultations take place between 2pm and 3pm and from 6pm until 7pm.

Section 30 dispersal orders, in line with the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, were introduced in September to try reduce the amount of trouble.

The measures applied to parts of the village bordered by Salterton Road, Capel Lane and Littleham Road.

George Johnson, who lives in Liverton Close, said the area had experienced fewer problems since the dispersal orders were introduced.

"Things are a lot quieter now. I spoke to one of my neighbours recently and she agreed that it is a lot better up here. It is like having the old close back.