Unfortunately, as we have become accustomed to over the years, we are yet again privileged to experience the phenomena of drunkas pratas.

last night at around midnight we were presented with a group of four totally ratted mid teens decorating the road with wonderful green Stella glass, shouting at each other and generally doing what they obviously do best. Sadly, my other half witnessed it, as did a few of our neighbours, but I was asleep. I suspect she didn't wake me because she didn't want to visit me in clink.

The morons addressed themselves as 'Marie or Maria', Jordan, Simon and Paul.

So, Marie/Maria(I do hope you can today walk straight), Jordan, Simon and Paul, thank you for providing us with your presence.

Apparently, at around 07:00 this morning, there was a group of drunken kids outside the One Stop in Avon Way. Quite possibly the same individuals.
Any of you live nearby Kiln Road/Stoney Lane area and have the same trouble?

Yes, and yes... and the time but it is a waste of time telling the police as they aren't interested. If I had a pound for every time those kids - same kids - caused trouble i'd be a millionaire.

I'll give you an example; near the community centre kids smashed a window of a house. The man chased them - while his wife called the police - and he caught one of them. But the police refused to do anything because it will give them a bad start in life. Their policy, according to the police officer, is work with the kids... not punish them. It is already known on the estate that the police have such a policy and this has caused crime to increase. And who can blame the kids? If they know they will get of Scot free... then why not!?

If that is so, then I am truly gobsmacked, and I sympathise with you and your neighbours. Is their right to run riot more important than your right to a peaceful crime-free existence?

New one on me if they commit the crime they should be arrested but then I don't work within a neighbourhood team or youth team.

Well, I was quite shocked when I heard it.... and you can guess what the person thought.

They were either 15 or under.

That is what I was told, and I know the person was livid and furious. I actually told him to take it further. But what is the point?

That's a great shame then. It really is just a minority and they are apparently known but we have to keep the 'Youth Workers' in business don't we? Is it thinking the unthinkable to suggest we get rid of all the fads and fancy ideas and go back to simple straightforward Policing? Lets also get rid of the idea that paid officials can some how make communities better and safer. Introduce a harsh and therefore inexpensive custody regime and we might start getting somewhere again.

GMR, why don't you email Richard Benyon with the facts? He always seems to be pretty pro-active in constituency matters, and seems to get things done.

(delay to post while cat chases the cursor...)

If it was me I would... but it wasn't, so I can't really interfere... however, I will talk to the person concerned. Personally I wouldn't ignore it, myself. It wouldn't be the first time I've made my concerns official.

Can understand GMRs reluctance. This has been going on for ages and the 'powers that be' do know and have been told many times. Like I mentioned earlier - vested interests.

I'm sure with some thought and community spirit, the issue to which I refer could be dealt with successfully and within the law.

If only the whole street was prepared to come out at the time of any trouble to show the worthless scum that we mean business. (Didn't it happen recently with a so-called problem family)? Call the police and detain the offenders until officers arrive. Even if they managed to escape, they would certainly think twice before reoffending.

It wasn't too long ago that the bus service was disrupted due to stones being thrown. Why on earth didn't the police do something which to me was a very simple solution. Have police on board, hidden from view, or disguised as ordinary passengers. When the bus got attacked, stop the bus and give the little $hits the fright of their lives...

It is not about 'my reluctance' but it had nothing to do with me (the incident didn't happened to me), however, through experience I do think it is a waste of time reporting things to the police because they don't do anything. They just come and take notes and then disappear. The amount of times I've reported things and nothing has happened.

That has been tried and frowned upon by the police. We are told not to interfere, that we should go to them with any problems. You then go to them and they don't do anything. People have lost confidence our Newbury police force. I know a lot of people on the estate who have told me that they don't bother reporting problems anymore.

People should report, regardless of the immediate, or apparent response. If you don't report, then nothing will happen. If you do, then it might.

'Might' being the operative word. But that shouldn't be the case. People report things for a reason.... not so that something 'might' happen. I always report things; I've seen damage being done etc, but nothing.

I agree, we should report EVERY case. Sadly, when I asked the girl in OneStop if a report had been made, the reply was, 'what's the point'?

It is ok you saying 'report EVERY case' but the girl is right. 'What is the point?' I've reported many times and not once was anything done. Granted in one case the lad got a ticking off, but he carried on his merry ways.

The kids are strengthened by the police inaction. They feel omnipotent and just carry on. A lad near me has been consistently reported over the last 10 years and all the ticking off and warnings has never deterred him. In fact it has given him strength. As the girl in the shop said 'what is the point?' My son and daughter both work in shops, my daughter is an assistant manager and they constantly report crimes but nothing is none. They've got to a point of 'what is the point'.

Police do tend to act if a pattern forms, this is aided by people reporting crime.

Shouldn't they act irrespective of any patterns? Shouldn't they put the welfare of peoples interests first, before trying to find patterns? However, I am pleased that by reporting crimes it helps their graphs, sometimes we can be such an ungrateful lot!

Regrettably they don't - that's what the other posts are demonstrating. Some do report all the time but they might as well save thier effort NOTHING happens! Yes, OK the odd incident might get sorted - but then its back. As for patterns, stones at busses, demolishing garden walls, drunken behaviour - that's not the sort of pattern that comes out in crime stats. However, what does happen when people complain is the investment in community protection goes up; so there is now a considerable amount spent on Youth Services and so on. What a waste! Rather than coming out with the usual mantras 'you must report it' or 'get the whole street out' (yes, that's happened tiwce to my knowledge in Newbury) - lets look again, and do something orginal. So, can't see anything wrong with introducing a harsh, healthy low cost penal regime and switch off all the resource diverted to community protection - in whatever guise. Frankly, we need a Police force that is respected rather than liked.