Villagers taunted by gangs of yobs

A SPATE of anti-social behaviour is wreaking havoc at a community hall under siege from youths who feel that they can "do what they like."

Vandalism, threatening confrontations and under-age drinking have become a constant nightmare for villagers at the Kiveton and Wales Village Hall and volunteers are reaching their wits' end in search of a solution.

"We just don’t know where to turn," said Gill Shaw, who runs the village hall's licensed bar. "These kids think that they can do what they like and the police seem to have very few powers to stop them."

Gill said that one incident, around a fortnight ago, saw eight rowdy youths, aged between ten and 16, refuse to leave the hall.

The gang left a trail of destruction, swore at staff, pushed artificial flowers down toilets, left rubbish strewn around the building and walked dog dirt into the carpets.

Gill said: "One boy walked in with dog dirt on his shoes and immediately turned to us and said: 'Here you are look, I've brought you some dog s**t, now get it cleaned up.'

"When you tell them to leave they laugh at you.

"This is meant to be a social heart for the community, for a lot of the more elderly people a quiet drink here might be their only trip out during the week, but many have said they won't come back after experiencing just a night of this kind of aggravation."

A police spokeswoman said that police were not aware of the ongoing anti-social problems but said that officers were in the process of forming a closer relationship with the hall's users.

She said: "Plans for a police notice board within the hall—where villagers can record their concerns—and regular workshops with members of the area's Safer Neighbourhoods Team will forge important links in future."

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