'This could be a scary sign of things to come' (From Borehamwood Times)

'This could be a scary sign of things to come'

12:31pm Thursday 13th September 2012 in News By Anna Slater

Crime figures show that anti-social behaviour is on the rise in Borehamwood.

The statistics reveal that  the number of anti-social behaviour incidents reported to police in Borehamwood since August last year was a shocking 1851.

Borehamwood North is the most affected with a total of 997 incidents - an average of 84 issues a month.

Father-of-three Mick Churchill has been the victim of anti-social behaviour and says rowdy teenagers are to blame. 

The 53-year-old Farriers Way resident said: “I was at home last September when some children started spitting outside my house and onto my car.

“I asked them to move but then began spitting more and got very abusive. It is always the same in this area, there are always kids causing some kind of trouble.

“Luckily I was not scared by the incident, but next time it could be a single mother or an elderly person who might feel very intimidated by it.

“Somehow, this has to stop.”

In February, 108 incidents were reported, with 86 in March but this fell in April, May and June when around 70 complaints were made.

However in July 2012 the figure shot back up to 98.

In Borehamwood South 854 incidents have been reported during the same period.

People lodging complaints seemed to peak during the summer months, with 99 incidents in August, 85 in September and 82 during last October’s unusually warm spell.

Councillor Richard Butler, (Kenilworth, Labour), said: “Young people are on the streets because there are no jobs available, so this could be a scary sign of things to come.

“It is really concerning. We should expand on the youth clubs to help keep children off the streets.”

Annabel Maghie, communications officer for Herts Police, explained that ten per cent of complaints lodged are “long term” and the rest are minor incidents which can be dealt with by phone.

She added: “The figures do not relate to all callouts – just how many complaints were lodged.

“We take it all very seriously though because it affects people’s lives.

“Anti-social behaviour incorporates everything from inappropriate use of fireworks to playing music too loudly. “If children are causing a nuisance for instance, instead of sending a police unit to disperse the children we try to look at alternatives, such as setting up a youth club.

“If a tenant is causing a nuisance, for instance by playing music too loud, we can issue an eviction notice.

“We can also issue ASBO’s where necessary.”