The picture painted of one of Tenby's main streets being a 'drug infested, theft and damage-ridden ghetto,' is exaggerated, the town's police chief said this week.
Inspector Les Clark was responding to comments made by a local businessman, who has called for anti-social behaviour orders to be taken out against persistent offenders who continually cause public order problems around the town's South Parade and Trafalgar Road junction.
And in his letter to the town council, Mr. Lynne Thomas, of the Kandy King, Trafalgar Road, went so far as suggesting banning the young people from the area to deter others from committing similar acts.
"The open air at the middle of the junction is regularly occupied by a gang of children and older youths playing some, alcohol induced, penalty taking football game," wrote Mr. Thomas, in his letter, read at Tuesday night's meeting.
"These people seem to gather in this area because there are two premises nearby with off-licence facilities and they openly ask older youths and even passers-by to purchase alcohol for their consumption. These licensed premises are not breaking the law, but the older people purchasing alcohol for these youngsters certainly are," he continued.
"The deals are transacted on the street in direct view of the CCTV camera, whilst other deals requiring a higher degree of privacy are carried out in a nearby alleyway, where in the past, stolen goods and other debris have been dumped by some of the younger offenders in the area."
Mr. Thomas also claimed that the football game and other anti-social behaviour resulted in disruption and danger to passing traffic and pedestrians, causing much dispute and aggression.
"The football is often kicked against or under moving vehicles, many drivers feeling too intimidated by this large, often drunkenly unruly group to stop," he said.
Mr. Thomas also alleged damage was being caused to properties and the town walls as a result of ball games.
"One retail premises suffered nine broken windows at different times, which cost in excess of £400 to repair," he pointed out.
"Other properties in the area have suffered similar damage to their windows, walls, roofs, guttering, doors, signs etc. Even the town walls are being damaged, with large pieces of the stonework being broken off.
"The local police are well aware of the names of these people playing in the area, and have, on complaints being made, tried to stop them at various times.
"In reality, they just resurface minutes later and carry on as normal, so little or no notice is actually being taken of any current police action.
"I suggest it is time that an anti-social behaviour order be taken against some of these persistent offenders, and actually ban them from the area. This would stop the problem, as others would be afraid of similar action.
"It would also bring the problem to the eyes of the parents who may not even know the mayhem that is being caused by their children."
MEETING NEEDED
After reading the letter, Clr. Mickey Folland, who had also received a copy in his capacity as chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, told fellow town councillors that he had contacted the town's police inspector and was hoping to meet with him the following day.
Added Deputy Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown: "We need a meeting with the police just to discuss anti-social behaviour around the town and an update on the exact workings of the town's CCTV."
Members agreed.
YOUNGSTERS 'BORED'
When contacted by the Observer, Insp. Clark said that there had been a reduction of incidents in the area concerned and officers had done a lot to try and ensure public order on the South Parade, but he pointed out that the reason the youngsters congregated there was because they were 'bored' and 'have nothing else to do'.
"Officers have attended 68 incidents of all types at the South Parade, ranging from serious assaults to one person who asked us to remove a dead cat from their garden, which is a reduction of about 30 incidents from the previous year," he explained.
"We have made many arrests at the location for drink related disorder and several incidents of begging etc. This has invariably involved adults and vagrants, but certainly not local young people.
"There is, though, a problem caused by local youngsters playing football on the South Parade and eight of the calls this year have related to this nuisance. I have recently sent letters to parents of youths who continually offend and this seemed to quell the problem for a while and I will of course repeat this exercise."
However, Insp. Clark said that some calls made to the police complaining about youngsters had been made without justification.
"On one occasion, the complainant himself was drunk and abusive and quite frankly behaved worse than the kids themselves," the officer said.
"Teenagers do, from time to time, obtain and consume intoxicants. It is my experience, however, that mostly they get it from home, rather than illegally obtaining it from off-licences," continued Insp. Clark.
"Off licences are strictly regulated and recently in the Tenby area were subjected to covert test purchasing by the local authority using underage subjects to try and purchase intoxicants. To purchase intoxicants for young persons is an offence and offenders will be prosecuted if detected."
Insp. Clark also addressed several matters raised in Mr. Thomas's letter.
"The inference that drug dealing (i.e. deals requiring a higher degree of privacy) is taking place at the South Parade is misleading and not something that has previously been brought to my attention," he said.
"If drug dealing is taking place, however, I need to know about it at the time, so I can deal with it at the time.
"I can confirm that on one occasion, a stolen holdall was abandoned in the lane referred to, and the offender was actually arrested and dealt with."
In conclusion, Insp. Clark said that he often spoke to the youngsters in South Parade and they always gave the same reason for being there.
"They are bored and have nothing else to do. They are in the main, though, nice kids and I'm afraid the picture painted of the South Parade as a drug infested, theft and damage ridden ghetto is slightly exaggerated."