Crackdown cuts trouble on housing estate plagued with anti-social behaviour
The Ipswich West safer neighbourhood team patrol in Garrick Way, Ipswich. Picture: IPSWICH WEST POLICE - Credit: Archant
Their daily lives were being made a misery by louts causing trouble on their estate.
Castle Court in Ipswich. Picture: ANDREW PAPWORTH - Credit: Archant
But now a police crackdown appears to have greatly reduced the anti-social behaviour that plagued an area of Ipswich for several months.
The problems in Castle Court and Garrick Way, Whitton, Ipswich at one point got so bad, there were fears that neighbours would take matters into their own hands and form a vigilante-style response.
People described regularly having abuse shouted at them and frequent acts of criminal damage and even violence and arson attempts.
A public meeting chaired by Anthea Boast of the local Neighbourhood Watch team was held to address the concerns, where Inspector Kevin Horton from Suffolk police pledged an action plan would be developed to address the concerns raised.
But with tensions “running quite high” according to some, one person told police at the meeting attended by approximately 100 people: “If you don’t sort it out, we will.”
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Castle Court resident Simon Tuddenham, who organised the public meeting on Wednesday, September 5, described the mood in the area as “quite hostile and intimidating”, adding: “In some cases people are quite scared of them.
“There are a few people in the community who it wouldn’t take much to push them over the edge.”
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However the 69-year-old warned at the time: “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.”
But police wasted no time acting on the concerns, Tweeting shortly after the meeting: “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.”
And after Ipswich West Police safer neighbourhood team officers conducted foot patrols in the area on Tuesday, October 2, during which all shops in Garrick Way were visited along with Castle Court and Paddy Geere House, it appears things have changed for the better.
Officers Tweeted: “No issues identified in the pst two weeks and the general consensus is that ASB wise, things have improved in the area.”
Anyone who experiences anti-social behaviour should contact Suffolk police on 101.
