Written warnings given to parents of teenage troublemakers on Ipswich housing estate
Garrick Way in Ipswich. Picture: ANDREW PAPWORTH - Credit: Archant
Parents of teenage troublemakers who are making neighbours’ lives a misery on a housing estate have been given written warnings for “failing to exert sufficient parental control over their children”.
Residents in Castle Court and Garrick Way, Whitton, Ipswich and the surrounding area have been plagued by anti-social behaviour woes in recent months.
Police pledged to develop an action plan to address the issue after 100 people attended a public meeting and described regular verbal abuse, frequent acts of criminal damage and even violence and arson attempts.
Some neighbours were so anguished they pledged to take matters into their own hands, telling police: “If you don’t sort it out, we will.”
That prompted Simon Tuddenham, who organised the meeting, to warn against any vigilante-style retaliation.
Garrick Way in Ipswich. Picture: ANDREW PAPWORTH - Credit: Archant
But police have now revealed that they have taken quick action to try and curb anti-social behaviour in the area.
Officers from the Ipswich West safer neighbourhood team Tweeted on Saturday night: “Community Protection Written Warnings served by officers from @IpsWestPolice on 13th September to the parents of two youths involved in ASB in the Garrick Way area.
“Relates to the parents failing to exert sufficient parental control over their children.”
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Following this month’s meeting Inspector Kevin Horton, from Suffolk Constabulary, said a review was taking place of all incidents reported in the area in recent months.
Castle Court in Ipswich. Picture: ANDREW PAPWORTH - Credit: Archant
He added: “We fully acknowledge and understand the distress and upset ASB can have on residents and how it can blight communities and affect quality of life.
“If anyone has been the victim we would encourage them to report it so it helps us to gain a full understanding of what is happening and we can take appropriate action.”
Mr Tuddenham believes the best solution is to persuade those causing the anti-social behaviour to change their ways, rather than simply leave the area.
The 69-year-old, who lives in Castle Court, said: “Tensions are running quite high at the moment. The mood is quite hostile and intimidating. In some cases people are quite scared of them.”
He also said: “If a vigilante group starts up around here, the kids are only going to get more bold, someone is going to get seriously hurt and that’s not going to get us anywhere.
“We have to deal with these things in a measured way.”
