A BOROUGH Councillor has committed to setting up a multi-agency task force to tackle anti-social behaviour in Church Hill.
The pledge comes after Redditch Borough Coun Mike Rouse and Worcestershire County Coun Juliet Brunner were confronted by a gang who they suspected may have been dealing drugs in the district centre as they finished a jointly-run surgery for local residents.
Coun Rouse said: “We had just come out of the building following a surgery session and were talking about a local issue when I noticed drug dealing activity happening by a brazen group of youths.
“We tried to move away but were confronted by the gang one of whom I was later told has a history of violence. I’m told I was lucky to have avoided being assaulted, but I’m a big bloke who grew up on a tough council estate, so it’s different for me. It’s the ordinary residents I’m worried out.”
The Councillors were wearing official ID badges and have expressed concern based on reports from local residents about getting abuse whenever they confront the groups.
“We have issues with groups riding their bicycles dangerously close to the buses in the bus lane, which I’ve witnessed myself also. Residents say they confront them but just get a mouthful of abuse back,” said Coun Rouse.
The latest incident happened during a recent community event Coun Rouse was attended and resulted in a bus having to carry out an emergency stop to narrowly avoid running over one of the young people.
“The young lad was doing wheelies right in front of the bus, so the bus had to do an emergency stop with passengers on board to avoid striking him. The quick reactions of the driver should be commended, but he also shouldn’t have to put up with this kind of behaviour in the first place,” he added.
Following the first incident, Coun Rouse met with local police officers and the council’s community safety officers and as a result, a number of actions were agreed including better access to the CCTV control room for local officers and some overgrown greenery being cut back.
The task force will work in a similar fashion to one spearheaded by Coun Brunner in Matchborough where similar problems have been encountered.
Residents are encouraged to report any concerns to police on 101.
