A POLICE chief has hit out at poor parenting and told frightened residents they should talk to youths who are intimidating them.

At a community policing meeting in Hartley Wintney, Superintendent Joe Apps - the divisional commander of north east Hampshire Police - urged worried residents not to be intimidated by a gang which congregates in and around the main car park.

Supt Apps told the meeting: "The youth of Hartley Wintney are your children and grandchildren. What are you doing?

"What has happened to parenting skills? You should engage these kids in conversation. There's no need to be frightened of them.

"We need to get back to the old values and get out there and help communities care for themselves."

The top cop's call did not go down well with the audience, some of whom felt the police are not doing enough to help.

Mr Robert Fellows, of Chapel Row, said: "I feel intimidated. My partner feels too scared to go out at night without me.

"I've found a syringe in my back garden before now. These youths hang around in mobs, spitting, smoking and using foul language.

"Lots of us in the village have given up phoning the police about this. I've phoned around six times in the last year and nothing has been done. The police say they can't do anything if the youths aren't actually committing a crime.

Janet Martin, chairwoman of Hartley Wintney Parish Council, said the elderly people in Rosefield Court - a centre for the elderly - are very worried.

She added: "Condoms and syringes have been found in the area. Some police visibility would be reassuring. Some action would be even more reassuring."

One 78-year-old man, who has asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, told The Gazette: "I have remonstrated with youths in the past, and have been sworn at in return. They also threatened to put a brick through my conservatory.

"I certainly would not advise anyone to try to remonstrate with this gang. My concern is for the OAPs in the bungalows - they must have gone through hell."

Supt Apps later told The Gazette: "I'm not convinced that this is as big a problem as it was made out to be.

"It is all very well to complain at a meeting, but it is no use unless they keep us informed of the situation."