'PLEASE STOP'
Town where gangs of violent yobs rule the streets – but locals say they CAN’T talk about it as misery is laid bare
One local has already decided to leave the town as a result of the regular abuse
TERRIFIED residents living in a town where gangs of violent yobs rule the streets have complained they can't talk about their nightmare problems.
Disgruntled locals in Pontypool, South Wales, say their home has been overrun by unruly thugs determined to make their lives a misery.
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Scared residents have broken their silence despite pleas for discretion to avoid aggravating their deteriorating situation, describing a gruesome daily reality that has become unbearable.
Homeowners have told of teenagers repeatedly breaking in and drinking all night outside their front doors, their bins being stolen, and groups fighting outside their homes in the early hours.
The irritation has escalated into terror as they mentioned witnessing bouts against police officers and intra-group conflicts involving "bottles, saucepans, and bars".
They claimed that the audacious teens even get confrontational when approached by residents about their behaviour.
As a result of the abuse, one resident has said they’ve already decided to leave the town.
Meanwhile, another local says she is repeatedly getting people to come out to mend the door to her block which keeps getting put through.
Gwent Police have used dispersal orders, issued more than 20 anti-social behaviour referrals for under-18s, and made arrests for alleged assaults, assaults of emergency workers, obstructing police, and a racially-aggravated public order offence.
Cyra Gould, 28, a resident living above a high street shop with her young son, has painted a grim picture of life in her town, describing it as "heartbreaking."
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After being forced to move due to a no-fault eviction, she now faces a daily battle with anti-social behaviour.
She said: “I’m not exaggerating when I say I’m speaking to the police every single night of the week because of teenagers.
“They’re in town every night of the week drunk and taking drugs. Some of them are often in a really bad way. I don’t know them personally.
"They’re usually kicking in the shop shutters. The night before last Farmfoods’ window got smashed.
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"Some of them I sometimes feel are in genuine danger."
Detailing some of those experiences Cyra explained: “My front door to the block is constantly being put through. We’ve had it fixed, they did it again, we had it fixed, they did it again.
"It never stops. Bang, bang, bang. I don’t know what their problem is with us. We can’t lock the door now.”
Cyra says once they’ve gained entry to her block they lie in the hallway drinking all night and “screaming and shouting”.
The mum added: “It’s got to a point where sometimes me and my partner have gone out and shouted at them to get out and begged them saying: ‘Kids live here, please stop doing this.’
"We’ve got a two-year-old who is now petrified to stand near the door inside our flat.
"Basically we’re just not safe now in our own home and as a young mother there is no worse feeling than that.
" I’ve always felt me and my partner are big enough and ugly enough to look after ourselves but there are 20 of these kids outside and they assault officers, they assault each other, so they wouldn’t think twice about saying anything to us."
'GENUINE DANGER'
Cyra continued: “It’s completely ridiculous. It feels like my flat is being treated like a leisure centre where anyone can come in and sit down and do what they like.
"This is my home, it’s not just a case of teenagers in a town being loud - it’s serious.”
Gwent Police used a dispersal order from Sunday, June 30, to Tuesday, July 2, in the town centre giving officers power to arrest people not compliant when asked to leave the area and not return for up to 48 hours.
But Mark Jones, who also lives above a shop on the high street, said the order made little difference.
“People are fearful to come out of their own homes at night here,” he said.
“Police are constantly out here trying to move them on but it keeps happening. I’ve seen 30 of them out here on the high street – mostly youngsters abusing each other.
"It’s happening in front of kids in the middle of the afternoon sometimes. The swearing is bad enough never mind the fighting and criminal damage."
Mark said he was moving out in the next four weeks so he was not afraid to highlight the problems in the area.
'CONSTANT' CHAOS
He continued: “I can handle the odd scrap outside the pub and disagreements and whatever but these kids have got to be stopped.
"Something really bad is going to happen. It’s only a matter of time. My biggest concern is if someone starts on me. I had four boys kicking my door the other night trying to kick it down. That was Saturday night just gone.
“It’s gone really bad the last six months. I’ve lived in some scary places but this is the worst place I’ve lived. It’s incessant. It's a lack of respect. It’s three, four times a night.
"The other day they were throwing bottles and saucepans and bars at each other. Some of them are adults.
"I don’t know what’s causing the fighting or if it’s an organised thing but it’s constant."
I’ve lived in some scary places but this is the worst place I’ve lived. It’s incessant."
Mark Jones
Jonathan Watson, 28, said he was also looking to leave the area over the incidents. “The door has just been kicked through again. My dad did temporary fixes on the door so we could close it but they’ve managed to kick through every single one of them.
“What good is it being moved on when they’re coming back and destroying property? They have caused so much damage in town.
“It's hard for us to find somewhere else we can afford but we’d love to leave. They are always forced out of town but they always come back.
"They are stealing Tesco blind – stealing alcohol I imagine by the look of them. I don’t know how we can expect Pontypool to begin to improve if the community doesn’t feel protected in town.”
Lee Stachow, Gwent Police neighbourhood inspector for Torfaen, said: "We’re aware of reports of anti-social behaviour in Pontypool and in particular the town centre over the last few weeks.
"Anti-social behaviour, and any offences associated to it, is completely unacceptable and we understand the distress it causes our residents.
"We’re committed to doing what we can, together with our partners and members of the public to make Pontypool a place where people feel not only safe but can feel proud and enjoy their community.
"We have recently issued dispersal orders which can be re-introduced if needed and have an increased police presence in the area.
"When it comes to anti-social behaviour we’re guided not only by information gathered though investigations and patrols but by information the public has provided through their reports.
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"I encourage residents and businesses to keep reporting incidents of anti-social behaviour to us but, more than this, I urge those who call in or message to go beyond just reporting but to also provide statements, submit CCTV, to support us take action against those causing misery to our community.
"Our message is clear: such behaviour will not be tolerated and with your help those found responsible will be dealt with appropriately."
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