Police Chief Promises Tougher Action in the Hamptons

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 30th Jul 2002

Residents from parts of Hampton, Hampton North and Hampton Hill attended a public meeting at the White House last night where they were told that there will be a stronger police presence and a uniformed beat police officer on the streets.

Chief Superintendent Gargini, who had been asked to speak at the meeting by MP Vincent Cable, also told residents that the police would take action, if necessary, against children as young as 10.

At the meeting, which was chaired by Vincent Cable, residents complained of endless smashed bus shelters and windows; drug dealing in local parks and havoc wrought by youths from Hanworth. They also heard how the borough's police telephone exchange is overwhelmed by upwards of 3000 calls a day with only four telephonists.

Vincent Cable said: "there is a lot of anger and disillusionment in the Hamptons that a once law abiding area is now prone to serious anti social behaviour while the police have been ineffectual and often invisible. I very much welcome the borough commander's decision to free up more officers for community policing and to reintroduce 'bobbies on the beat'. While the police are still seriously undermanned in this area there is also now a commitment to stop local officers being drafted into inner London. I am optimistic that, for the first time in over a decade, the police are sufficiently well staffed and well organised to get to grips with local crime".