Concerns about teenager gang raised at meeting

The Freshwater community voiced their concerns about the behaviour of a gang of around 12 teenagers which has left them ‘angry and frightened’ at a meeting at the West Wight Sports & Community Centre on Monday evening. 

Around 200 people attended the meeting including local IW Councillors Peter Spink, John Medland and Chris Jarman, as well as Karen Lucioni from Ryde and Ian Ward from Sandown.

But there was disappointment that there were only two PCs, Gunter and Pragnell, there to address the public with a more senior officer, who was invited, unable to attend.

The meeting was twice stopped as the police officers had to go outside to talk to a group of youngsters who had gathered in the Moa Place car park.

Facilitating the meeting, sports centre manager, Clare Griffin, said: “We are here because we are angry and frightened. There is a small group of young boys causing no end of trouble in the Freshwater area over the past few months.”

Among the incidents cited were breaking and entering, front doors being smashed, windows broken, theft from businesses, a bus delayed because a driver was attacked and bricks and stones being thrown at residents.
Earlier in the day, police appealed for witnesses, after an incident in the village on Sunday night, saying: “We are appealing for witnesses after an incident that occurred on January 15 involving items being thrown into the street in the path of oncoming traffic.

“The incident took place between 6pm and 6.30pm in the area of School Green Road in Freshwater. We are particularly interested in any dashcam footage that may have captured the incident. Anyone who has any information is asked to contact Police on 101 quoting 44230019397.”

It is understood wooden logs from a Christmas tree which had been cut up were thrown into the path of the traffic.
PC Gunter explained: “From the beginning of January we have identified the youth responsible and have arrested them and referred them to youth court.

“We are unable to speed up the process as they are underage. I expect us to have concrete results with convictions but we need the community to work with us, as well as partner agencies and the IW Council. We want to see if we can help these kids as well as punish them – it’s a complex situation.”

Several members of the public voiced their concerns over a lack of a police presence in the area and response times.
Cllr Spink said: “I have asked for contact details of the police superintendent and will contact him to set-up another meeting urgently. I will also contact Donna Jones, the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner, and I have a meeting with Bob Seely, our MP, this weekend and will raise the matter with him.”

Last week, two boys, aged 13 and 14, were arrested following a number of offences in the village including burglary, theft, harassment and criminal damage. They have been bailed with conditions until April 11.