POLICE WARN OFF ESTATE 'VIGILANTES' (From Warrington Guardian)

POLICE WARN OFF ESTATE 'VIGILANTES'

POLICE in Winsford are refusing to condone the behaviour of members of the public who take the law into their own hands.

Both the Over4All Residents Association and Grange Residents Association claim that a rising tide of anti-social behaviour is making life difficult for law-abiding people on the two estates.

And Mike Kennedy, chairman of the Grange Association, said that people on his estate have started taking on the law-breakers.

He said: "The public are already taking issues into their own hands by dealing with rowdy youths but not telling the police about it.

"They are making these kinds of youths aware of their responsibility as members of the community.

"The councils and the police cannot create that sense of community so we are doing it.

"We had an incident on January 9 with drunken behaviour and youths entering people's gardens and the residents took it upon themselves to approach the people involved."

But Sergeant Ian Wood from Winsford's Community Action Team (CAT) said a number of anti-social behaviour orders were underway to take on trouble-causers.

Condone

He added: "I would not condone vigilante behaviour at all.

"We need people to give us any information they might have about incidents and then we will act on it ourselves.

"If they want to leave information about an incident they can do so by calling the CAT on 01244 612583, but to report an incident ring 01606 592222 or 01606 48000, or 999 if it is an emergency.

"They can also leave information in confidence with Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111."

However, a spokesman for the Over4All residents association said: "People are sick and tired of the situation. They want to take back the estate for themselves.

"If the police are not going to patrol the community then the community will end up patrolling the estates themselves. There is no way we support vigilantes but it could well happen."

rfraser@guardiangrp.co.uk