Seaside town hires private security as abusive schoolkids terrify residents with catapult attacks

Yahoo

2 days ago

One Kent town has drafted in a private security firm amid a spate of antisocial behaviour incidents during school holidays, including catapult attacks, stealing, and young people shouting abuse.
Council officials in a Kent seaside town have been forced to hire private security guards in an attempt to curb antisocial behaviour.
Residents and businesses in Herne Bay, Kent, claim groups of children have been stealing from shops, shouting abuse, throwing things and using catapults on animals in the park since the start of the school holidays.
Akon Security have now been awarded a contract to help enforcement officers crack down on antisocial behaviour – at a cost of £8,500.
Two security guards, in Akon-branded uniforms, will work five days a week to patrol the streets, while police increase their presence on Fridays and Saturdays.
Akon workers cannot arrest anyone, but will act as a deterrent – assisting officers and reporting any crimes straight to police.
The Kent Police and Crime Commissioner's office has funded the project, which will help the work of Kent Police, Kent County Council (KCC) wardens and city council enforcement teams.
Watch: Police bodycam footage shows young people arrested for 'firing catapults at animals'
Kent Police has also issued instructions for a 'catapult crackdown' in response to neighbourhood reports that catapults were being used to harm wildlife such as seagulls and pigeons, as well as causing criminal damage.
The force said that since June it had received 14 contacts a day relating to use or possession of catapults, although that can include reports of the same incident.
It said it had searched and seized catapults from children and teenagers in several Kent areas, including Herne Bay.
One homestay host said foreign students had been targeted with abuse and catapult attacks in Herne Bay. Kathy Atwal told the BBC: "The local children are using catapults against them and basically they're just causing an awful lot of trouble."
Chief Inspector James Ross said: 'It is not currently illegal to possess a catapult but if our officers suspect one is being used to commit crime or antisocial behaviour then they will not hesitate to seize and destroy it along with any other items such as ball bearings.
'They will also make arrests and bring offenders to court if necessary and proportionate.'
Akon security boss Oli Nonis added: 'We can confirm that we have been contracted to support local efforts in addressing ASB in Herne Bay.
'As a business with strong ties to the community and a background in professional security services, we're pleased to be involved in a project that prioritises safety and community reassurance.'
'They started killing ducks in the park'
Heena Thakkar, who owns a corner shop on the high street, says groups of children have been terrorising her for years - but that things are starting to get better with the new patrols.
She said: 'We have had problems with them but with the new patrols it has gotten a lot better. They come to check on my shop at least two times a day.
'We had kids coming in a little gang, and they are only about eight or 10 years old. They would always steal stuff.
'They would also throw eggs and fruit at our doors. They were always lobbing trolleys at the windows. This was going on for four months, then they started killing ducks in the park.
'I would call the police but there is not a concrete solution because they weren't allowed to do anything. They know it is in the law that we can't touch them, and they challenge you on it.'
'They steal about 50 items a month'
Fiona Thompson works in a charity shop where donations are constantly ruined. However, she believes the council should be funding more activities instead of security.
She said: 'They are quite clever, they wait until I am busy with a customer then go to the corner where I can't see them and steal.
'The main problem is that there is nothing to do in Herne Bay. They are just bored, and their parents can't afford to pay for activities for them.
'We should be targeting the parents, finding out what their kids like, and funding the activity. If they had something to do which was constructive then they wouldn't be terrorising the pubic.'
Her colleague, who wished to remain anonymous, added: 'If anyone ever leaves donations when we are closed then the bags are destroyed and stink of urine.
'Theft has gone up loads even though we have cameras. These kids don't care that we have them. They steal about 50 items a month, which is a few hundred pounds of revenue.'
'They are just out to cause trouble'
One worker, who did not want to be named for her own safety, said that the children 'are always out on their bikes'.
They said: 'We get a lot of verbal abuse, especially the female staff.
'They are just out to cause trouble. We had to stop selling marbles because they were using them to load their catapults.
'It is always the same group of about six kids.'
'This is just people getting offended easier'
Not all locals see the children on the streets as being a problem, with some saying that people are overreacting.
One anonymous resident said: 'Once upon a time kids playing football was just that, now it is a gang.
'You can find antisocial behaviour anywhere if you look for it, this is just people getting offended easier.
'This new security hire is like handing out buckets on the Titanic. I don't think the police can fix it, there has to be a societal shift.'
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