Call for Tougher Police Action on Twickenham Green Vandals

3.17.52pm GMT Tue 19th Jun 2007

Local residents around Twickenham Green are increasingly frustrated by regular and systematic vandalism by a group of youths who frequent one corner of Twickenham Green and the surrounding streets.

Last Friday they smashed up a telephone box (on the corner of First Cross Road) and menaced passers-by. Residents claim the police did not respond to telephone calls. On Saturday the same happened but 12 police cars arrived and several boys were arrested. On Sunday the gang was again vandalising the telephone box and the police, according to residents, did not respond to calls.

Vincent Cable said that " this group has been making residents' lives miserable for months and I have asked the police on more than one occasion to give the area priority in patrolling. I have now asked for a mobile camera to be deployed. But the ring leaders also need to be dealt with; otherwise the problem is simply pushed further down the road."