New operation launched in Middlesbrough to prevent kids targeting buses
Action is being taken on an East Middlesbrough street plagued by children throwing stones at vehicles
Action is being taken on an East Middlesbrough street plagued by children throwing stones at vehicles.
Overdale Road, in Park End has seen kids, believed to be as young as eight, hurl rocks at passing vehicles.
Middlesbrough Council says an operation to stamp out mindless criminal damage being caused to buses and other vehicles has been launched.
Local MICA Councillors Mick Saunders and Donna Jones said that the issue has been an ongoing problem over the past six-eight weeks, with missiles being thrown at buses, cars and taxis.
Cllr Jones believed that five or six buses had been hit – there had been discussion of buses stopping entirely, as Cllr Saunders said: “Put yourself in the position of a bus driver.”
Cllr Saunders wanted a dispersal order in place and said the “ammunition” was rocks from the “mounds of mud and rubble” left by Northumbrian Water from their works, located next to the Family Shopper on Overdale Road – the rubble has now been cleared.
The councillors explained how youths could pick up their weapon of choice, chuck it at vehicles driving along the road and then dart off through the neighbouring skate park.
The council has said that additional CCTV was installed to cover a nearby play park where gangs had been gathering. This week, plain clothes officers from Cleveland Police supported the work by travelling on buses through the area to gather intelligence and identify further culprits.
A significant reduction of issues in the area is being put down to the co-ordinated response.
Middlesbrough Council’s neighbourhood team in East Middlesbrough – with the support of Cleveland Police and other partners – has identified a number of offenders, with visits carried out to the homes of youths in the area.
Neighbourhood wardens travelled on buses and followed bus routes in their own vehicle in an attempt to deter further attacks and identify the youths responsible, while the council’s neighbourhood safety officer engaged with local families to warn that legal action could be taken.
Cllr Jones explained the issues went beyond the attacks on vehicles, discussing the matter of “little-uns” starting fires, as she highlighted the plight of a local disabled woman, 63 year old Dot, who was attacked in the area – Dot hid the rocks to prevent kids getting their hands on them and using them as missiles.
The councillors said bus routes have changed to avoid the lengthy Overdale Road and Cllr Jones detailed instances of people having to get off their bus at Ingram Road and walk quite a distance to get home. Services have now returned to Overdale Road. A Stagecoach North East spokesperson said they are continuing to monitor the situation “closely”, working in partnership with the council and the police to understand the “root causes” of the behaviour.
The spokesperson added: “Our focus is not only on responding to the immediate issue, but on working collaboratively to help eliminate this type of behaviour altogether and ensure that communities can rely on safe, consistent bus services.”
Cllr Saunders was complimentary of efforts made by the council, riding along on buses amongst other things. He highlighted that what the youths, some believed to be as young as eight, were doing was a “criminal offence”, rather than simply anti-social behaviour. He said there’s “no extra police around here” and posed the question: “What will it take for the police to take more serious actions?… Will it take someone to be very seriously injured?”
Cllr Saunders thought the problem was worse in Park End than in Coulby Newham – the latter had seen a dispersal order put in place for a similar problem, something Cllr Saunders wanted to see in East Middlesbrough. Both he and Cllr Jones thought there should be a curfew in place to deal with the problems. The Coulby Newham dispersal order gave officers the power to order people to leave an area bordered by Newham Way, Stainton Way, Ryehills Way and the B1365.
Neighbourhood Inspector Des Horton, from Cleveland Police, said: “We have shown that we will not tolerate this behaviour and will take action will be taken against anyone found to be throwing objects at vehicles.”
Cllr Ian Blades, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods at Middlesbrough Council, said: “This is stupid, dangerous behaviour that not only causes damage but can put lives at risk.
“We will continue to work closely with Cleveland Police and other partners to identify those responsible and put a stop to this on behalf of the vast majority Middlesbrough people fed up of this mindless behaviour.”
Middlesbrough Council and Cleveland Police have also worked with social housing company Thirteen, who accompanied officers on home visits and warned that tenancy action can be taken against families with children involved in anti-social behaviour.