Anger at anti-social behaviour in Corringham (From Thurrock Gazette)

Anger at anti-social behaviour in Corringham

1:00pm Friday 21st September 2012 in News

THURROCK Council’s cabinet member for public protection has reacted angrily over the need to employ a security guard at Corringham library during the school holiday.

Yobs ran riot in the public facility, riding around on scooters, throwing things at eachother and using abusive language towards staff.

A security guard was drafted in to protect the library while significant damage was also caused to the Adizone play area in Corringham, which was built last year.
 

Cllr Angie Gaywood, portfolio holder for public protection, believes cuts to funding are a big factor.
 

She said: “We have heard that our library service had to employ a security guard over the summer break and that a superb sports and play area in Corringham, the AdiZone, has effectively been destroyed.
 

“All this, it seems, is down to young people behaving stupidly.
 

“I would like to make it clear that it is not all young people. I’m a mum myself and I know that the vast majority of youngsters are well behaved and a credit to their families.

“I want to know how cutting local council funding is supposed to reduce anti-social behaviour or increase the number of affordable holiday activities for our young people.”
 

Cllr Gaywood added: “After I heard about what had happened in Corringham I called on local people to stand-up and be counted, to let the police and the council know who was doing these things.

“I stand by those comments. I also wonder whether, had Corringham police station been in use, local people would have come forward, whether police officers would have been on the scene.

“But it’s not open anymore. Officers are not based there.

"Is this an encouragement to those dim-wits? Sadly I think so.”