Officers speak with those causing problems and move them on
POLICE have taken action against people they suspect are regularly involved in anti-social behaviour in Stratford town centre.
Concerns over unruly groups who gather and drink outside NatWest Bank, the Shakespeare Memorial Fountain, Bridge Street and the Bancroft Gardens as well as other parts of the town centre have been voiced for years.
Despite repeated police operations and with the opening of the Fred Winter Centre to try and get people off the streets and back on the right track, anti-social behaviour still persist.
This week the police Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) were on patrol in the town centre responding to both public and business concerns about anti-social behaviour.
Police revealed on social media: “This morning – Tuesday - officers from the Safer Neighbourhood Team have been conducting uniformed patrols around NatWest Bank in Stratford due to ongoing anti-social behaviour issue from people drinking, fighting, and causing a nuisance.
“Today officers have come across some of the people causing these problems and have advised them on their poor behaviour, resulting in them being moved on from loitering outside on the street.
“This area will be continuously monitored over the coming weeks. We will be working with our partner agencies to help tackle the ongoing issues. looking issuing Community Protection Warning Notices and using other anti-social behaviour tools that are available.”
Stratford resident and former mayor Cyril Bennis said he was unconvinced the action would provide any long-term solution.
“I am intrigued by the action but it’s not solved the problem – they just moved them on,” Mr Bennis said. “We ‘re being too lenient and this anti-social behaviour problem in the town needs something more drastic, more forceable, the measures don’t even begin to go far enough. These people have no interest in our community, they just stick two fingers up at our community and we need more direct action. We’re pussy footing around and tinkling with this and they’re just laughing because it’s just moved the problem a few feet away.”
Further anti-social behaviour took place last Sunday when an un-authorised meet of about 200 cars gathered at Stratford District Council’s Leisure Centre Car Park with a number of drivers performing wheel spins, repeated engine revving and exhaust pops for nearly two hours.
