No help to rid us of yob gang

I read with interest your article on the number of recorded complaints of anti-social behaviour.

Most of the complaints could well have come from where I live, as we have been plagued for more than two years by youths who turn up in gangs of anything up to 25 at a time. Half a dozen or so live in the street, the rest travel in from nearby Russells Hall estate and as far afield as Great Bridge to run amok in our small cul-de-sac.

I struggle to decide who has been the least helpful in tackling the problem, the police or the council. Adding to the problem there are a few small-minded residents who think the youths are doing nothing wrong. These are either parents of, or have an association with, these youths, or are people who have not had the pleasure of 25 youths standing directly outside their house night after yet another disrupted night.

Yes, the police and the council make the right noises. The police insist that they are doing all they can to stamp out the problem. The council has an out-of-hours team which responds to complaints by paying a visit and reporting back what they have witnessed.

In reality, the police are giving youths information that helps them get away with it or turns residents into the villains.

At the request of the police/council, we have provided a pile of evidence to support our case, and instead they choose to listen to the small-minded minority and to wash their hands of us.

To quote another two police officers on our beat, they don't like putting kids into "the system" by giving out fines and Asbos, and, give it another four years and they'll be grown up and out of our hair. This comes from those who are meant to be on our side.

Let's get back to basics, and start off by thinking "what if it was happening to me?" Then let's give the police the power to start tackling the problem.

H Lewis, Vanborough Walk, Dudley.