Bohemia Village Voice

Street bobby Andy.

By Julian Beecroft (Apr 2007)

You may remember a story we ran in the Village Voice last month about a group of youths attacking a local taxi driver in Lidl’s car park. We are pleased to note that our street bobby Andy Hubbard not only acted quickly on that report, but he has since posted this message to the community via the local Neighbour-hood Watch email service:
‘It has been noticed that a number of youths are using the car parks of the Lidl store and the Shell garage to meet and then to partake in acts of anti-social behaviour. These have ranged from playing football in the car parks to being drunk and disorderly. I would like to ask any member of the community that may know any of the youths to contact myself or PC Hearn through the police website. I would also like to take this opportunity to ask all parents, “Do you know where your child is?”

‘As this is now becoming a more frequent problem and warnings are not being taken seriously, any further incidents will now  result not only in the youths being barred from the above premises but also any further complaints received will be investigated and individuals dealt with.’

Operation Abstain
Andy Hubbard has also conveyed to the Voice that this appeal is part of a wider initiative by Hastings Police to target underage drinking and the anti-social behaviour it gives rise to. Operation Abstain, as this crackdown is known, has been running since the middle of January, and has so far led to a number of arrests. But Andy insists that there is more and more evidence of teenagers drinking and smoking drugs. He says that the youth problem at Lidl is led by a group of older boys who egg on the younger ones. ‘I’ve spoken to the parents about keeping an eye on their children, and I got a good response.  We can support parents, but they need to take responsibility for their own children.’

Anyone with something to report can contact street bobby Hubbard on 0845 60 70 999, ext. 21185.

COMMENTS

Vanessa Gent writes (May 2007)

Dear Sir, In reply to the article by street bobby Andy, I must say that I do know where my children are.  I actively encourage my teenagers to socialise and hang around together in groups, just as I did, and I imagine young people throughout the centuries have done.  However, the difference now is that the behaviour of an antisocial minority queers the pitch for all the others, and there is a growing fear of young people, and a consequent prejudice which can only harm society as a whole.  It amused me to read that street bobby Andy regards a game of football as antisocial behaviour.  Was he ever young?  Has he heard about Britain’s obesity epidemic, and the fact that this town is one of the worst-affected areas in the world for ill health and lack of fitness, especially amongst children?  I notice that street bobby Andy ups the ante and warns that young people seen in the vicinity of Lidl may be barred from the premises, and that steps will be taken; dark threats against young people committing no crime other than being teenagers, with their distinctive tribal markings and a desire to gather in groups apart from adult society.  I wonder what the function of a street warden is in this connection: I regard their role as that of scarecrows, and am not cognisant of their exact powers. The wardens seem to ask a lot of young people for their names and details, and notch up the odd triumph for arresting someone who has dropped a cigarette butt.  They do not seem to notice significant criminal acts, however, and I suspect their powers do not extend to doing much that is of value.  They fail to inspire trust as they are so obviously abusing their limited powers and impotent in the face of real crime. Much is made of the fear of crime in our town.   This is fostered by alienating young people rather than trying to understand their needs, and ignoring the fact that they are different from older people.  Respect and tolerance are two-way processes, and neither can be fostered by blind prejudice and blanket bans on anybody wearing a hoodie and a logo-emblazoned cap.  It is time for a more mature view of young people and a lot less criticism.

Vanessa Gent, Bohemia.