Youth annoyance is something most people put up with from time to time. But for some residents in Riverside, a rising gang culture is making their lives a real misery.
Canton Court, just off Cowbridge Road East in Riverside ward has caused a number of problems over the decades regarding anti-social behaviour. In the 1980s, the Riverside Possy were a well known gang in the area. Now a group of young people are becoming a thorn in the police's side.
Marilyn James, 56, who has lived in Canton Court with her 70-year-old husband Allan for 15 years says youth annoyance has been a problem ever since she moved in, but now she is so worried about the gangs, she won't leave her home. She said:
"They hang around the corner and if I ask them politely to stop hitting their football against the window, they hail abuse at my and my husband. I'm afraid to go outside because I suffer ill health. If I know they are hanging around, and my husband takes the dog for a walk, I get worried he won't come back."
Another resident, Pat Young, 64, said after asking youths to stop sitting on her wall she had her window smashed. "You can't come out and say anything because you are afraid of retaliation," she said.
Police presence stepped up
Local PCSO Dan Wyatt said the police were getting on top of the ongoing problem.
At the Riverside PACT meeting this week he said 20 young people had been referred to the police for anti-social behaviour, and six of those were being taken to the next level in making an anti-social behaviour contract (ABC). The contract is an agreement with the young people they will abide to certain conditions which when breached can be moved on to the next stage towards an ASBO.
Canton police station sergeant Tessa Gold said: "There are a small number of youths causing the problems and we have got officers working over time to address the problem."
Riverside councillor, Mohammed Islam, said he went to the Court last night and was returning again tonight. He said between the council and the police they would tackle the problem.
Islam said: "This is a real problem which has been going on for about five weeks. We had this problem many years ago and I know the youth are not from the area. If people see anything they should report the problem."
An ongoing annoyance
Gerry Lynch, who has lived at Canton Court for 28 years, praised the work the police have done in the area. But, he said: "There has been sustained youth annoyance here. There are more than one gang and they are aged from 10 years old to 16 or 17. This issue has gone on much longer and I want the 101 service to be more sensitive to the issue."
Terry Phillips, the neighbourhood watch co-ordinator for Pontcanna, said: "Many years ago we had problems with the Riverside Possy. In those days we worked with the police and saw success in coming together. Things have changed and we now have the 101 system. I think it's successful and I'd urge people to use it."
