Our town’s overrun by teen yobs who smash up our livelihoods, brazenly deal drugs & attack homeless…cops have no control

IT’S one of the UK’s oldest boroughs, but Barnstaple is being plagued by a new wave of crime and antisocial behaviour driven by teenage yobs who are “out of control”.

Residents in the picturesque riverside town in North Devon are bracing themselves for the upcoming Easter holidays, fearing these destructive schoolboys and girls will run riot through the High Street and harass local traders.

Wayne PerryBarnstaple has seen a rise in anti-social behaviour according to shop workers[/caption]

Wayne PerryRubbish piled up outside a law firm[/caption]

Wayne PerryExtra security patrols have been set up to keep the peace[/caption]

Wayne PerryBeggars can be seen around the high street[/caption]

Wayne PerryPolice move in to patrol the high street[/caption]

When The Sun visited this week, distressed locals told how vandalism, brazen drug-dealing and using on the streets and a homeless community taunted by abusive youths are among the list of woes they regularly endure.

In the local park, where street-sleepers have pitched tents in the bushes, a man complained he’d recently had his slashed by a heartless lout.

One shop-owner, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, told how their store windows have been smashed frequently.

“There’s a huge problem with anti-social behaviour in Barnstaple, it’s gone right downhill in the past couple of years,” they said.

“I’ve been called a c*** in the past before I’ve even opened up in the morning. We’ve seen drug deals happening right outside our window and gangs of youths hanging around.

“People from all over the country come here and say, ‘What on earth has happened to Barnstaple?’

“The council don’t do much and the police have lost control of the town.”

Beauty therapist Sophie Mclear, 26, works at the Powder Room off the High Street, which is owned by her mum Katrina.

She told how she chased down a group of kids aged between 11-16 after they smashed up her advertising chalk-board before running off.

Sophie said: “A group of them came past, kicked the chalk-board outside the salon and it went up in the air and smashed on the ground.

“I came out and chased them up the street. When I caught up with them, I tried to reason with them, but children being the children they are nowadays, they weren’t easy to reason with. 

“I wanted to ask why they did it and try to get some money back for the sign.

“I chased them around a nearby car park for about 20 minutes and eventually caught up with them. Luckily a member of the public urged them to ‘do the right’ thing and come with me.

“We are a small business, we’re not like Tesco – £150 for a new sign is a big loss for us.

“A community police officer came and took statements.

“The following week the group all walked up and down Holland Walk where the salon is to try to intimidate us, but it didn’t work.”

Intimidating

Wayne PerryBeauty therapist Sophie Mclear said she chased down a gang of kids who smashed her advertising board[/caption]

Wayne PerrySome have made makeshift stoves to survive living outdoors[/caption]

Wayne Perry.Pannier Market is popular with locals[/caption]

Wayne PerryLoutish behaviour is putting some business owners off the area[/caption]

Sophie said the level of abuse from these gangs of young people has got worse – and criminal acts like this cost small businesses dearly.

“Anything vandalised comes out of the owner’s pocket,” she said.

“We have a lot of elderly clients who are a bit more timid, and it’s intimidating for them, especially when it’s a big group. 

“The teen problem in the town and the vandalism that comes with it is quite high and difficult to deal with.

“There’s not a lot for kids to do here, other than paid clubs, and money’s quite scarce, which means they end up just hanging around in the town.”

Inside the town’s colourful Pannier Market, traders were reluctant to give their names for fear of reprisals.

One told us: “The teenage gangs run riot through here. They can be gangs of up to 12 who come in and cause chaos.

“If you challenge them they’ll make you a target, pretend to steal things and generally cause a nuisance of themselves. 

“There’s not a lot the police can do but move them on, but they always come back.

“One of the vendors once wrestled a kid to the ground because we’re pretty much left to deal with it on our own. 

“Anti-social behaviour from these small groups is out of control.”

Drunken yobs

Wayne PerryHarry Wallace, 30, is a full-time musician and says drunks have tried to nick his takings[/caption]

Wayne PerryA boarded up shop along the high street[/caption]

Wayne PerryLocals reported young vandals smashing windows[/caption]

Wayne PerrySome local homeless residents have had their tents slashed[/caption]

Harry Wallace, 30, is a full-time musician who lives in nearby Bideford and visits Barnstaple every week.

While he finds the people of the town friendly, he’s witnessed loutish behaviour and had people try to nick the money he makes from busking.

“I’ve seen… people being drunk before 12 o’clock, people throwing God knows whatever on the floor,” he said.

“I’ve seen drunk people yelling, gang behaviour, especially from some of the younger groups.

“They tend to antagonise and try to get away with stuff, and because of that the older generation might snap back and question their behaviour.

“I’ve had people get a little ‘handsy’ with the money that’s been put on the floor for me, or you’ll get the street sleeper asking for money and assume it’s ok to take it.

“Others, usually if they’re drunk, will grab the microphone, which is annoying.”

Former photocopy engineer Tony Flynn, 66, who became a Big Issue coordinator distributing magazines and selling them himself in Barnstaple, told how he’s been hounded in the street by gangs of youths.

“You get groups of young people hanging around, especially in the half-term, and the police have to come and deal with them,” he said.

“They used to hang around by the library playing loud music.

“I’ve had one incident where they were shouting at me, calling me silly names, but it got dealt with by the community support officers going to the school to talk to them.”

Tony added: “There used to be at least 11 beggars, drinking and gangs hanging around on the benches. 

“Some are still here but they’ve been pushed out of the centre.

“I’ve seen windows smashed – I think it happens after hours, not in the day, but it shouldn’t be happening.”

Smashed windows

Wayne PerryButcher Darren Gratton said he’s had his window smashed ‘once or twice’[/caption]

Wayne PerryBig Issue seller Tony Flynn told how he’s been hounded in the street by gangs of youths[/caption]

Wayne PerryA homeless man on the high street[/caption]

Wayne PerryBarnstaple introduced street marshals in 2022[/caption]

Barnstaple introduced street marshals in 2022, and while some say the anti-social behaviour and vandalism is an increasing problem, others think it has improved.

Local butcher Gratton’s is a family run business on Boutport Street, away from the busy High Street where most of the crime and vandalism happens.

On arrival in the town centre we were greeted by the sight of two police officers near the butchers, who then met up with two street marshals. 

There was, however, the faint aroma of cannabis and a couple of street sleepers discussing which direction the drug dealer had walked up the road.

Darren Gratton, 44, said: “I think it’s better than it used to be.

“Since Covid and since the street marshals were introduced, I think Barnstaple is on the up.

“We’ve been here 40 years so obviously we’ve had our window smashed once or twice.

“People did use to take drugs in the phone boxes outside the shop, but that seems to have stopped.

“I think it’s improving because there’s more of a presence and the council and police are pulling together more.”

‘Sad to see’

Local estate agent Lorraine Brookes, 60, lives in the neighbouring countryside and said it’s sad to see so many homeless people on the streets in the town.

“I don’t think the council do enough to try to help them out,” she said.

“They should do more so people don’t have to live like this.”

“I don’t know why all these new homes have to be built when there are derelict buildings nearby which could be done up instead.”

North Devon Council’s Service Lead for Housing, Vulnerable Persons and Community Safety, Natasha Rowland, told The Sun it has a team in place to help individuals who want to come off the streets, or are yet to find suitable accommodation, and offer support for those who prefer to stay there.

She said: “People sometimes assume that individuals who are begging in our town centres are rough sleepers.

“This is not always the case. Most of those begging on the streets are not people in temporary difficulties trying to make ends meet. Instead they are individuals who have become dependent on a begging income, often to support dangerous addictions. 

“Support is available for people who need it and nobody needs to beg on the streets to survive.”

A representative for North Devon Council added: “We work in close partnership with Devon and Cornwall Police and other partners to address antisocial behaviour.

“We have an antisocial behaviour Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) within Barnstaple town centre which allows us to directly deal with the conduct that can have a damaging impact on people’s lives and local businesses. 

“The PSPO empowers the police and our own ASB officer, neighbourhood wardens, Civil Enforcement Officers and street marshals to address negative behaviour and ensure the town centre is a place residents and visitors can enjoy safely. 

“Persistent offenders may also be dealt with through formal warnings, notices and court enforcement action..

“Street marshals have been in the town centre since November 2022, funded by the council following a successful pilot of the scheme through the Government’s Safer Streets fund.

“The street marshals are on duty seven days a week and have delegated powers to enforce the PSPO in Barnstaple town centre. 

“The overwhelming response from local businesses and the public is that the marshals are having a hugely positive impact, with the majority seeing reductions in incidents of antisocial behaviour, street drinking and drug use.”

The Sun has reached out to Devon and Cornwall Police for comment.

Wayne PerryEstate agent Lorraine Brookes said it’s sad to see so many homeless people on the streets in the town[/caption]

Wayne PerryMany small businesses in the town have closed as the cost of living crisis bites[/caption]