cricketer
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Always glad to hear from Spondonians
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Post by cricketer on Jun 16, 2007 16:44:28 GMT 1
Could it be the lack of a National purpose that leads to this aimless life? In the 1940's when we were fighting for our very existence, all the teenagers were in the Cadet Corps, Sea Scouts ,or the Air Training Corps, volunteers all of them, preparing to fight for their country and training two or three times a week to achieve their goals.
Are there no social problems left?, or is it that their is no local leadership to give focus to this enormous youth potential to do good things for the community?
Ken Porter
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cricketer
New Member
Always glad to hear from Spondonians
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Post by cricketer on Jun 16, 2007 18:24:47 GMT 1
Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. Why not start a Youth Club and a Sports League for these Kids?
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ollyo
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Post by ollyo on Jun 16, 2007 19:19:41 GMT 1
Firstly, I think we have to put this issue into a little perspective as we run the risk here of making it sound as though Spondon is suffering from a pandemic of riotous children carving up the village in a nightly wave of terror!!
As has been said in a number of posts so far, you can expect to see gangs of 15-30 kids hanging around the likes of the Chapelside precinct on a Friday/Saturday night - and usually it's the same kids. A quick calculation based on the 2001 census figures suggests there are currently around 2100 kids aged 16 or under in the village so roughly 99% of them are quite content to be doing something better of an evening than cause trouble around the village. So let's not tar every Spondon kid with the same "youth of today" brush just yet, eh!
As a kid in the 80s, I remember going to the chippy on a summer's evening with mum or dad and there being groups of "big lads" hanging around the precinct so it's nothing new to see gangs on streets in an evening. Sadly, where today's gangs DO differ is in the fact that they are more likely to intimidate or even abuse passers-by than previously.
I know there have been attempts in recent years to start up youth groups and so on and, while these are great for the kids that take part and well worth pursuing, it's a sad fact that the types of "kids" hanging around Chapelside on a Friday night are exactly the same type that would very likely either brand the groups "lame" and not go anyway, or would turn up, cause hassle and spoil it for everyone else.
Like most cocky/bullying kids, these types of gangs rely heavily on the "safety in numbers" apporach. They are far more likely to cause hassle when together than when on their own. Which is why, going back to the very first post in this thread, the best solution for this situation seems to remain in Police having the powers (and resources) to be able to disperse groups when they see fit.
I've noticed an increased police presence in the village of late - but only really in the daytime. Surely our local CSO's time would be put to better use patrolling the village centre in an evening than in the middle of the day? But, until we get the resources necessary to police this problem properly, it goes back to us, as residents, making the effort to call police when they see groups gathering in the village.
As an additional suggestion, why not equip the late-night shops, takeaways and pubs in the village with a radio system like other local shopping areas such as Long Eaton and Ilkeston have to allow shop staff to contact the police (and each other) easily when they see the groups causing trouble in the village.
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Post by sheepyhogger on Jun 17, 2007 15:49:36 GMT 1
Agreed Ollyo. The need for social focal points for youngsters is an excuse that's trotted out all too often, when the point you made about the core problem of those needing to be taken off the streets is valid. They won't go to these things because it's not "cool" (or whatever the latest "in" word for chic might be! The safety in numbers issue is one which is simply and quickly addressed by a disersal order. I wouldn't tar every under 16 in the village with the title of "troublemaker" or whatever, there are some decent kids round here. It's the hardcore louts and associated wee slappers (excuse me ladies ) that are the root of the problems round here.
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Post by hardtailbiker on Jul 2, 2007 15:59:31 GMT 1
Spondonallstar, we know not all kids are troublemakers and sheepyhogger is right, we never had anything put on for us at your age, we made our own entertainment because of this. You young ones expect too much from others and need to get off your own ****s to do things. You also need to learn a bit of respect for other people in the area and hang around in the many parks that you are lucky to have in Spondon and not outside people's houses and scaring people like Sparkle who should not be put in that situation. a neighbour of mine was beaten up by a group a while back and is also to scared to say anything now. Another near neighbour had his windows smashed on many an occasion. Having a youth club would not have stopped this, having a decent upbringing would have had.
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Post by mmilner on Jul 3, 2007 15:40:10 GMT 1
Hardtailbiker
You are so right about the upbringing and importance of this. Respect for others and especially those who have lived on Earth longer and are consequently more experienced (elders) is lacking from a lot of youths' upbringing today. My mother was once abused while she was taking our dog for a walk at about 10pm along the green that separates the service road from Nottingham Road in south Spondon (near Silver Hill Road). Furthermore the existence of youth clubs will not prevent this type of loutish behaviour because as several posters have said the type of kids who commit the abuse will consider such places to be beneath them. Some parents have a lot to answer for. Maybe not for the things they do now but what they failed to do a long time ago.
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Post by sparkle on Jul 8, 2007 17:15:52 GMT 1
I am glad to see that there are so many who recognise the problems we - and countless numbers of people around the country face and the problem is not one that can be easily eradicated. To conclude so far, the solutions appear to be thus: - Anyone who is victim of a crime, no matter how minor, MUST report it to the police (using the non-emergency number if not urgent) so that it is logged and tracked
- Anybody who witnesses and crime MUST report it and not rely on others to do so
- The older people among us must accept the fact that children grow up with different values to those that we had - however this is not always a bad thing
- We must take care not to tar ALL teenagers with the same brush - as someone else pointed out it is less likely you will see the decent kids out on the streets in the first place
- Teenagers must be taught / encouraged to occupy themselves without the need to bother or engage with strangers
- The problem clearly lies with parents and discipline and so we must appeal to parents and parents-to-be to bring back the values we hold dear and raise their children to be respectful and kindly
- We MUST encourage and nurture good behaviour in others
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Post by sheepyhogger on Jul 9, 2007 19:12:31 GMT 1
I think it's been said by the Police on a number of occasions, we in Spondon aren't necessarily over-troubled by the gangs, places like Chad, Alvaston and Allenton (to name a few) are becoming overrun with these gangs.
Having said that, I think we all recognise the need for something to be done about the current crop of louts hanging around. Fortunately, it's not been too bad on account of the horrendous weather lately, take some solace from that!
That'll change of course when the sun shows it's face again.
My six year old is going home to his Mum saying that the kids round here are a nightmare, purely because of the impunity they apper to enjoy when swearing their darling little heads off to try and get a response from "grown ups".
Unfortunately, a grown up might well find themselves in trouble when they do react after a lot of provocation. The question is; what can be done before this eventuality?
Reporting to the Police is all well and good, but the kids disperse before they can react accordingly and then re-emerge from their hidey-holes to start all over again. Apart from bombarding the Police with phone calls, what else CAN be done?
I've contemplated going out and videoing the little angels, only I'm likely to be accused of being a paedophile if I do!
Catch 22?
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Post by sparkle on Aug 24, 2007 18:17:11 GMT 1
It would be much easier for the police to track them down if there weren't so many jitties / ginnels / alleyways (whatever anyone calls them!) for them to disappear down. Also, they tend to migrate towards the parks - if there was only one way in or out then this would also cut down their potential escape routes. It's true, we live in a Catch 22 society these days. Nothing operates in the interests of the victims or those affected by crime and violence - the law is on the side of the perpetrator. We see it far too much in the newspapers these days. There is NO CONSEQUENCE to any deviant action - so why not?!
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Post by sheepyhogger on Aug 27, 2007 16:56:51 GMT 1
I'd agree with you on your point about the jitties, however they are one of the features that make Spondon Village different to so many other places.
The jitty that runs from Sitwell Stree down to South Avenue must be one of the most frequently used. Living where I do, I have a perfect view of the entrance to it, and the yobs are often legging it down there towards the south end of the village.
Closing these jitties, I feel, would be a very sad state of affairs. Personally, I'd rather see the louts taken off the streets, handed to their parents and THEM being held accountable for the actions of their offspring. parenting is a big responsibility and sadly too many people shirk their obligations.
There was talk at the last Police meeting of a new dispersal order being considered, but I've heard nothing about it since then.
Anyone with any news?
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Post by unionjack on Sept 20, 2007 0:43:01 GMT 1
Hi, New to this board.. hello!
We live near Notts road and have had plenty trouble over the past few years. Then it went quiet, after one well known trouble maker was sorted out. But during the last 6 months we've had a nightmare with a bunch of feral nuisances who live on Station Road, some as young as 8 years old.
The police were called on many occasions and did a great job, but they said they had problems approaching the families of these kids.. the parents basically didn't care and would just shut the door in their faces. I can't really go into details, but one incident went too far, the police caught them and able to ultimately act. All got sorted, been quiet ever since.
But yeah, it's quite supprising really, when you look at Spondon, it's a great village.. but there's a fair bit of hassle.
I also wrote a letter last year to Bob Laxton (local MP).. actually got a reply and he raised my concerns with the local council. They later replied to me saying that they were looking into various problems, most noteably certain shops in the area flogging booze to kids.
I prefer us not to have dispersal orders, rules, restrictions etc as they just cause problems for the 99% of law abiding people. Generally rules will be ignored by idiots anyway. Like a lot of people are saying, we need to keep the police informed of all problems that occur and they seem pretty good to be honest at sorting it out around here, they've been excellent with us.
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Post by atristra on Feb 16, 2008 21:40:29 GMT 1
I only recently moved to borrowfield rd in spondon and have noticed over the past few days more and more gangs of youths/even younger children hanging around outside my house..screaming and shouting. I was lying on the sofa this afternoon to hear a loud bang outside my house and low and behold some kid was kicking a football at peoples houses as he was walking along. I find their behaviour very threating. People shouldnt have to put up with this. If you say anything to them or look at them all you get is abuse. You just cant win. You can see why people take the law into their own hands. My partner was ready to go out and give them what for. But you cant go doing that. You do feel the law is on their side and they can get away with doing anything. It makes you wonder were these children brought up or dragged up? More needs to be done. I will be reporting anymore incidents even if they are minor because i am starting to get really fed up with the situation!
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Post by malchall1 on Feb 17, 2008 23:55:44 GMT 1
atrista sorry but that is the last resort as it will only bring attention to you call the police let them have the agro better them than you.
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Post by unionjack on Feb 18, 2008 1:57:59 GMT 1
The main cause behind all this anti social behaviour seems to be related to booze. Kicking out time at the pub seems to be horendous with a bunch of drunk idiots of all ages let loose in the bottom of the village.
And the local youth.. They're quite often to be seen walking off down station road with a load of cans. Mind, it makes sense.. I know who a few of them are and their folks basically live in the pub all day, every day. At the tax payers expense I suspect.
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Post by sheepyhogger on Feb 26, 2008 15:35:20 GMT 1
I've seen and heard too many incidents with these Chav Wannabees of late, and spent some time with the local "beat" bobby who agreed that these youths act with impunity purely and simply because they go crying to Mummy when anyone tries to challenge them and it all ends up in the hands of the Police (who should be involved in taking them off the streets, and not protecting their interests).
I'm personally getting to the point where if it happens again, I will haul out my mobile phone, dial 999 and let them have a running commentary as they attempt to intimidate me. These kids don't scare me, they are irksome in the extreme and shouldn't be given the time of day to be able to gather in the manner that they do.
As I told the Police, as an ex Soldier (Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Gulf and other places Veteran) I have no fear of these muppets, but I am mindful of the fact that they can create situations where law abiding people are unable to deal with them without being accused of all manner of things, and the Police becoming involved.
Personally, I'd like them all to fall down a deep hole on a dark night.
One day, someone will reach the end of their tether and cause exactly that to happen.
Not me though, in case anyone was thinking I want to be a vigilante, as much as I'd love to get out there and handing out some bruisings, I'm actually Law-Abiding.
Unlike them, so why can't the Police get the scum off our streets? Maybe a question for the Chief Constable, local MP's, Councillors and Youth Workers.
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