Rising to a tough challenge

IT is enough to send a shiver down your spine.

Boys risking life and limb scaling a block of flats in the middle of a Southampton housing estate.

At any moment, their perilous ascent could end in tragedy.

To any responsible adult, the sight of children clambering 50ft over balconies would be a shocking one.

But imagine how you would feel if told one of the boys pictured here is your son.

Suddenly your child is not the angel you thought he was.

Shock mixed with sickness mixes with disappointment as the extent of his bad behaviour sinks in.

It is this type of antisocial behaviour that police want to stamp down on across Millbrook.

Five parents of youths identified in this picture have now been served with acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs), requiring their child to behave for a six-month period.

At present, Millbrook has 15 such young people subject to ABCs.

Aged between 13 and 17, all had already been brought to the attention of the police for previous antisocial behaviour.

The ABCs, signed by the teenager and their parent or guardian as well as police and housing representatives, put limits on the child's behaviour.

Although tailored to the individual, they commonly include clauses not to harass people or hang around in large groups.

The contracts also specify in no uncertain terms exactly what behaviour the youngster is in trouble for and must not repeat - such as throwing stones at buses, spitting in the street, or riding their bike on the pavement.

Further letters are sent to the child's parents if they breach the contract.

Ultimately, a youngster who does not change his or her ways can be made subject to an antisocial behaviour order (Asbo).

Introduced under the 1998 Crime and Disorder Act, the Asbo, viewed as a last resort to tackle persistent nuisance behaviour, can result in a five-year prison sentence.

Police say obtaining an Asbo is a lengthy and time-consuming process, used only in extreme cases. More commonly, a letter to a parent informing them of their child's bad behaviour nips the problem in the bud.

In the past three months alone, Shirley police have fired off letters to the parents and guardians of about 60 youngsters found to be behaving unacceptably.

Incidents have included intimidating shop staff, throwing stones, being abusive to people and climbing on to buildings and roofs.

About 75 per cent of youngsters who prompted a letter have not come to the attention of officers again.

Insp Howard Povey, who is in charge of policing Millbrook, sees the root cause of the problem as boredom and is seeking a long-term solution .

He is trying to find out what facilities youngsters want and seeing if they can be provided.

His colleague, Sgt Phil Kerr, who also has responsibility for community policing across Millbrook, agrees more youth facilities are needed in the area - at a price local families can afford.

"Gone are the days when you could go down to the local swimming baths for 30p. Youngsters in Millbrook have the Megabowl, but they simply can't afford to go there every night," he said.

As well as backing plans for more youth clubs and organisations, police are in regular consultation with residents about their concerns.

Police are also working closely with numerous agencies including the council, housing organisations, neighbourhood wardens, the youth service and shopkeepers to tackle crime around Millbrook.

Boredom is the root of all problems

THE man in charge of policing Millbrook estate has no doubts as to the main cause of juvenile nuisance in the area - boredom.

Insp Howard Povey, based at Shirley police station, said: "Unfortunately, there is no short-term fix.

"On an estate the size of Millbrook, Thornhill or Weston, you are always going to get maybe 30 or 40 kids who do not conform to the norms of society.

"These are not criminals in the true sense but, generally speaking, are youngsters who behave in an antisocial way because they have nothing else to do.

"Many of the kids who cause us problems are not in full-time education or are unemployed.

"Locking them up and putting them before the courts is not always the answer. These kids need a diversion."

Insp Povey favours tackling the problem at the root cause - by giving the youngsters clubs and activities to keep them off the streets, and out of trouble.

Shirley police are backing new plans for a boxing club in Millbrook.

Officers are also helping to find a piece of land in either Lordshill or Millbrook where a motorcycle club can be set up, giving youngsters the chance to let off steam in a controlled environment.

Police and council officers are also currently in consultation about putting up a shelter where youngsters congregate in Mansel Park.

It is simple things like this that can make all the difference, keeping youths from hanging out on street corners and causing a nuisance.

But Insp Povey is determined nothing should happen without first asking the young people what facilities they want.

"It is vital that we consult with the kids themselves," he said.

"Sometimes it is difficult for us to speak to them at their level, and that is where detached youth workers can play an important role.

"These are people who do not have a uniform and are not seen as being from the police or the council, and, as a result, the kids often find it easier talking to them. In some ways, a good outreach youth worker is worth ten police officers because of the contacts they make."

Pounding streets pays off

Meanwhile, out on the streets, it is good old-fashioned coppering which comes into play. Millbrook has five community beat officers who are by now familiar faces to most residents.

Insp Howard Povey said his beat bobbies found it frustrating that endless administration hampered the number of hours they were able to spend pounding the streets.

"We recognise the old-fashioned bobby on the beat remains the most important concept of modern policing," he said. "All too often, our beat officers are bogged down by form-filling and paperwork. If you ask any beat officer, they would rather be outside doing their job rather than stuck at a desk.

"I am convinced community policing and partnership work are the only ways forward.

"We need long-term solutions rather than reactive policing. There are absolutely no short-term fixes for Millbrook."

Sgt Kerr added: "We are lucky in that we have beat officers who really do enjoy being beat officers. These are people who love their job, but are frustrated by the bureaucracy involved."

Both officers believe the Millbrook residents themselves can play a vital role in shaping their community's future.

Sgt Kerr appealed for the older generation to help stamp out youth nuisance, which remains by far the area's biggest headache.

"The majority of problems are caused by a very small minority of individuals," he said."We need more support from the parents. There are some who are very supportive of what we are trying to achieve, but not enough.

"Some parents need to take a good look at what is going on, and ask themselves exactly where their children are at night. Every child who is out causing problems on the streets has a mother or a father somewhere."