Crime Crackdown in Hampton

12.00.00am GMT Tue 21st Jan 2003

The police have undertaken to Vincent Cable and local residents to pursue a tougher, 'zero tolerance', approach to a gang of youths who are responsible for much of the vandalism and anti-social behaviour in the area.

Vincent Cable said: "there has been intermittent trouble for the last couple of years or more around the Oak Lane, Percy Road area and the Nurserylands shopping centre."

"The police raise their profile for a while and the trouble stops - then it reappears. I hope that this time there will be sufficient arrests and appropriately tough action through the courts and anti social behaviour orders to deter the trouble makers who currently think that Hampton is a low risk, 'soft touch' area."

"Parliament has given the council and the police whatever powers they need to pursue persistent young offenders and their parents. They must use them".

The police have made arrests of known troublemakers and will be pressing charges and are also recommending that the drinks licence be withdrawn from an off licence store on Percy Road.

Vincent Cable said: "I feel sorry for the shop keeper who is trying to serve the public but is having his alcohol repeatedly pilfered by street gangs."

"There has to be action to stop underage gangs gaining easy access to alcohol which then fuels bad behaviour on the streets".

Vincent Cable is also pressing for an extension of CCTV coverage to the precincts of the Nurserylands shopping centre.

In recent months the gang has burst into the store terrifying staff and shoppers and on occasions forcing the management to close early.

Vincent Cable said " I persuaded Sir David Sainsbury four years ago to invest in a CCTV system for his store but it needs to be improved and extended and actively monitored as part of the borough's CCTV programme".