There’s a chance to talk about anti-social behaviour in Rye next week – and to hear from some of the groups and organisations trying to find a solution. It takes places at Tilling Green Community Centre on Saturday, May 31 between 10:30am and 12:30pm.
The meeting has been arranged by Rother District councillor for Rye and Winchelsea, Simon McGurk who says the two hour meeting will include Sussex Police. “We’ll have a range of organisations and agencies, and we hope businesses, with stands and information. They’ll all be local. The idea behind it is to share information with residents about all the things that are happening. We will have some dedicated spaces for people to talk with police or the other organisations about individual issues or to raise concerns.”
As well as the police, representatives from Tilling Green Residents Association, Rye Youth Zone, Southern Housing, Rother District Council and Rye Chamber of Commerce are expected to attended, along with youth workers.
In recent weeks Rye News has reported on a number of instances of anti-social behaviour including: smashed windows, shoplifting, hate crimes, verbal and physical abuse and vandalism. In the worst incident residents in a local care home were left distressed after young people gained access to their building.
So does Rye have an anti-social behaviour problem? Cllr McGurk thinks it needs addressing. “Some of it is really nasty and has had a significant effect on the victims. There’s been lots of concern about it on social media. I’ve had a lot of correspondence as a local councillor and one of the things people tell me is that they don’t know where to go with the problems that they’re experiencing. So this event is primarily about letting people know how to report anti-social behaviour and hate crime, and what to expect when people do report it.”
He says the other aim of the event at the Tilling Green Community Centre is to engage local people in supporting the town’s young people. “Anti-social behaviour isn’t always about young people by any means, but they are the most vulnerable to becoming involved in it because of peer pressure, trying to find their way in the world, and trying to establish an identity.”
Sussex Police have an important role in improving things, as part of a multi-agency approach, he says. “It is their responsibility as we’re talking about crime and potential criminal behaviour. We’ve got some really good engaged local officers and I know how responsive the police can be locally. Yes we want them in uniform around the town, but that is impossible as much as we would like it. We don’t necessarily want them walking around the streets all day while crimes are going on elsewhere. But there are a range of interventions that also include housing associations and councils working with families.”
Image Credits: James Stewart .
How to avoid our youngsters to avoid it is important. Punishing them will have no effect unless the reasons why are thought about and dealt with if its more than just ” high jinks “.. I myself as a youngster played knockout ginger and regularly tipped bins over. Just saying.
What a fantastic turnout at today’s Anti Social Behaviour Awareness event! Thanks to those who brought a stand;
Helena Dollimore MP (who spoke to many residents and took issues away to follow up)
Sussex Police, Rother Team (who faced a real grilling and who responded very positively),
Rye Youth Zone (who 14 weeks after formation are at their 102nd local young person attending)
Tilling Green Residents Association (Greenwaves Festival/ powerhouse of positive change)
Rye Sea Cadets (complete with Commando Display)
Rye Chamber of Commerce (representing ASB as it affects local business)
Rye Foodbank (open for volunteers especially later in the year)
Southern Housing ASB Team (great to see local engagement)
Also other organisations who sent a representative; Rother District Council (inc Vice Chair, Mark Legg and Cllr Ruairi McCourt, Housing Portfolio Holder), Rye Cricket Club and Rye Town Council (lots of local Cllrs inc Deputy Mayor Chris Hoggart)
And of course all the local folk who care so much about our town they gave up a Saturday morning to find out what is going well, what needs to be done better and to ask searching questions of those in a position to make a difference.
What next? I want to submit an account of the event to Rye News (if you’ll have it!), I’m interested in feedback and will continue to chase up the issues raised with me privately, Helena has taken away lots to follow up on top of the work she has already taken on since being elected and the feedback so far is that people want to see a follow up meeting in the Autumn.
Watch this space!
So what is going to happen to our undermanned, underused police station,which is costing taxpayers thousands each year,for this empty decaying shell, how long before we see real police on our streets day and night, and traffic wardens covering all streets and not just the selected few.Yes we need to see positive action now, and not brushed under the carpet in months ahead.
Hear, hear. More police presence is essential and residents having to provide evidence of wrongdoing by their Ring doorbell is not acceptable. Implementing regular and consistent policing throughout the area, at ALL times is the only deterrent and solution. Unfortunately, anti social behaviour will always exist, but it can be supervised and dealt with accordingly
Yes, it was a good turn out, and I think it provided a much needed opportunity for people from right across the community to express their evident discontent and frustration. It does strongly impinge upon people’s enjoyment of their town and their homes. Much ire was directed at the two Sussex Police representatives, but it was clear from their presentation that the ‘Thin Blue Line’ is still exceptionally thin in and around Rye, so not all blame can be laid at the officers’ door. This is a national issue, and one that’s not just about crime prevention and criminal justice. It’s about education, mental health, social service provision, poverty, opportunity, housing, inclusion, alcohol, drugs etc etc. I’d also just add that not all the ASB is the responsibility of people from Rye, a proportion clearly comes from outside the town. And lastly, it’s important to say that not all our young people are villains… Quite the opposite in fact. Yes, we absolutely need them to respect their community, but the way to do that is to show that their community respects them too and understands the real challenges some of them are facing from day to day. That may be dismissed as a reprise of the old ‘hug a hoody’ schtick, but I have to say my eyes have really been opened by involvement with RYZ, and there’s a huge amount we can do together as a community to address this issue. If you want to support Rye Youth Zone or have a few hours a month to spare as a volunteer, please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.
info@theryz.com