Yobs 'as young as 11' are causing misery and fear in Maryport

A man standing outside to protect his car was reportedly threatened by a youth holding a broken bottle. His wife said she was terrified that he was going to be stabbed.

An allotment fence was set on fire and house door panels have been kicked in, cars damaged and stones thrown at windows.

Yobs are allegedly taking drugs and drinking on the street, leaving smashed alcohol bottles lying around. The street smells of urine and faeces. According to one resident, on one occasion, a couple were seen having sex on one of the benches outside the row of houses.

In 2014 the Times & Star wrote about the plight of residents in Furnace Road, whose lives have been made a misery. Now, they say, the only change is that the hooligans have got younger and the incidents worse.

Even neighbours who spoke out previously would not be named this time for fear of retaliation.

One woman said she had moved to Furnace Road two years ago and it was the worst mistake of her life.

“I have children. They can’t go out and play and I am scared to confront these kids because they could make our children’s school lives a misery," she said.

“On the day of the carnival I couldn’t go to sleep for worry - and we are all dreading school holidays.”

Cllr Iain Greaney asked Maryport Town Council for help at a meeting on Monday night and said benches on the road, installed for the elderly, should be removed.

Residents want benches removed to deter antisocial behaviour (Image: From public)

A resident said no elderly people ever use the benches due to the broken glass and the stink of the place. She said removing the benches should help, as would closing the gate behind BM Stores, which leads to Mote Hill.

Cllr Greaney said after talking to residents, that he felt there was a need for a multi-agency meeting on site to try and resolve the situation.

Residents praised community police officer Sam Steel for his efforts but said he had the whole of Maryport to look after. They claimed that the perpetrators of anti-social behaviour appeared to know his shift patterns and would stay away when he was on duty.

Several residents have installed CCTV cameras and police said this week that cameras may be one solution they will be using to overcome the problem.

They will also increase patrols by police and local council enforcement agents, including joint patrols.

Cllr Iain Greaney (Image: Cumberland Council)

A Cumbria Police spokesman said the police are well aware of what is happening in Furnace Road and in Mill Street where a car park joins the town centre.

They said since Mr Steel began his role last summer there has been a significant reduction in overall antisocial behaviour within the town.

However, police are also aware of specific issues relating to this area which are 'proving particularly challenging due to a number of factors', not least that it is a tucked away area very close to the town centre and local amenities with numerous access routes.

“A significant amount of work continues to be ongoing, not just by police but by multi-agency colleagues as part of the Allerdale Local Focus Hub so that a multi-faceted response can be undertaken," they added.

“A full Crime Prevention Survey will also take place, where the area and the environment are assessed and opportunities to make the area less susceptible to crime and antisocial behaviour are identified."

Inspector for Allerdale Neighbourhood Policing Team Pete Aiston said: “Whilst a great deal of progress has been and is being made, the issues raised at the meeting are ones we are aware of and are issues we are determined to address robustly.

“I would like to continue to urge people to report offences as soon as they occur.

"It is extremely important as, without such reporting, we do not have a clear picture of the extent of the issues in the community.”

In an emergency and/or when a crime is in progress, always call 999. If it is not an emergency and a crime is not in progress, you can report online at cumbria.police.uk/reportit or phone 101.