Nuisance Youths
We - and the Police - receive a number of calls throughout the year from people complaining about 'nuisance youths'. Some of these calls are not to report any crime, damage, noise or a direct threat but are from people who feel intimidated by groups of youngsters congregated in public places such as shopping parades and bus stops.
Young people often gather in groups because it makes them feel safer, choosing places near shops because they are well lit and busy. In many cases they are not aware that their presence alone can seem intimidating to others. There is a difference between youngsters acting deliberately to cause damage or upset and those who have simply and quite legitimately gathered to socialise.
Action the Police can take
If the youth or group of youths is causing deliberate harm or damage, or behaving illegally, you should report the matter to the Police. In some cases they may not be able to send an Officer immediately (if, for example, they are dealing with an emergency elsewhere). But they will always respond if a crime in progress is reported.
If there are no grounds for arrest the Police will find out who the young people are and what they are doing. If necessary, they will be asked to leave or go home. The Police may then make a referral to the Council's Anti-Social Behaviour team to investigate further. Officers can also act if youngsters under 18 are drinking alcohol in a public place. Police have the power to confiscate the drink and may ask the youths to leave if they are behaving in an unruly or aggressive manner.
Action that Welwyn Hatfield Council can take as a landlord
The council has only limited powers to act in response to complaints of nuisance youths. However, our Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) team includes an Officer who specialises in dealing with these cases.
Once we receive a complaint from the public or a referral from the Police or other agency, our ASB Officer will contact the youth or youths involved and their parents for more information. Usually a meeting will be arranged to discuss the matter and possible means of dealing with it.
Sometimes there is no need for further action. However, in other cases the ASB Officer will agree with the family involved to put in place an Acceptable Behaviour Agreement or Parental Control Agreement. These are both formal agreements that specify the nuisance behaviour that is to be prohibited, along with how the situation is to be monitored.
In very serious cases, or where no agreement can be reached with the youth and parents involved, the council will consider an Anti-Social Behaviour Order or (if the case involved council tenants) possession action.