Positive steps to address the issue of problem youths in Buckfastleigh have been taken with the news that a multi-agency meeting has been scheduled for May 8.
And mayor Cllr Donald Joint has told his colleagues on the council that he would like to see them all taking part to demonstrate the town's commitment to the project. The idea was first suggested by the town's beat officer, PC Ali Hooper, in March, after she revealed that while the number of calls to the police regarding troublesome youngsters had reduced there was still more to be done.
She said that police would continue to crack down on persistent offenders but it was also time to talk. 'I would like to discuss opportunities to improve an area for these youths where they can hang out without causing a nuisance to other residents.
'With me, the council and other agencies must work together to come up with a long term solution to improve the quality of life of Buckfastleigh residents.' The May 8 meeting will involve representatives from the town's youth club, the Bungalow project, police, councillors and others involved in youth issues.
'It will be a discussion about what is needed in Buckfastleigh and I would like to see you all there,' Cllr Joint told his fellow councillors.
It is hoped the invitation-only event at the town hall will result in an emerging policy that the youths themselves will be encouraged to develop for the benefit of everyone. 'It is important that residents feel safe to go out into their town without the intimidation of these groups and therefore decrease the fear of crime,' PC Hooper said in her monthly report to the council. Problems with nuisance youths was the third largest source of reports to police in March, with 14 incidents recorded. Only traffic-related incidents and others labelled 'miscellaneous' generated more reports.