Don't become another perpetrator, says council (From Warrington Guardian)

Don't become another perpetrator, says council

HELP us tackle the bad guys - that is the message from John Roberts, head of community safety at Vale Royal Borough Council.

A fortnight after residents' associations in the Grange and Over Estates claimed that angry neighbours were about to start patrolling the streets themselves, Mr Roberts urged people to work with the authorities to solve the problem of anti-social behaviour.

He said: "Report incidents to the police, the wardens, your housing officers, and when those people come back to you asking for more information, try to help provide it.

"Don't become another perpetrator of anti-social behaviour by using it yourself. Keep the bad guys in the small minority and help us tackle them."

Mr Roberts was speaking in an exclusive interview with the Guardian following our front-page story of January 21, Police warn off estate vigilantes.

At the time Sgt Ian Wood, from Winsford's police community action team (CAT), said the police "would not condone vigilante behaviour at all" and urged people to communicate any information about anti-social behaviour to the authorities.

He added: "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."

The following is from a question and answer session held between the Guardian and community safety boss John Roberts.