Crackdown on anti-social behaviour in Liscard

May 13 2009 by Carrie Catterall, Wallasey News

A CRACKDOWN on anti-social behaviour in Liscard town centre has begun.

Customers, police and shop workers say they are fed up of youths congregating and causing trouble.

Sergeant Justin Diggins, from Merseyside police, said: “Over the past five months we have experienced an increase in reported ASB in Liscard Way, specifically in and around McDonalds.

“Young people congregating outside the restaurant is the main issue, notably during the evenings at weekends. This has led to local residents feeling intimidated.

“Inevitably, the problem has deteriorated when a minority of people have consumed alcohol which leads to localised disorder and damage to property etc.”

To address this issue, Sgt Diggins recently chaired a problem-solving group which involved McDonalds management, Wirral anti-social behaviour team and youth services.

They are now looking to deploy youth outreach workers and the Kontacabus to the area on a regular basis to break down barriers and encourage some degree of engagement.

Sgt Diggins said: “From our perspective, we will be holding regular community surgeries in the restaurant during the evenings to reassure the public and prevent offences.”

A grandmother from Wallasey, who does not want to be named, said: “We took our grandchildren out to McDonalds recently, but it turned out to be the evening from hell.

“It was an early Saturday evening and there were at least 25 youths and girls kicking footballs at the shop shutters, climbing all over the Mother Redcaps statue, climbing up shutters, lounging on the outside window seats and shouting and swearing.

“Several of these youths started to come in and sit at the window tables, without buying any food or drink, shouting at others outside.

“We only stayed for a very short time as our grandson was clearly afraid and the whole episode was very unpleasant for all of us.

“As we are being asked to ‘Support Liscard Shops’, I suggest that something needs to be done urgently about what is happening regarding McDonalds in the evenings.”

A McDonalds spokesman said: “We are working with the local authorities to find a solution to this problem.”