Youth reply (From Barry And District News)

Youth reply

IN the Barry and District News last Thursday (June 2), I read the article on Romilly Park and the 'gangs of youths' that congregate there, and would like to reply to it. A comment from one resident said: 'On Friday about 100 youths come out of the park.'

I've been down the park myself on several nights and I can assure the paper that no more than 40 youths maximum there every night.

It also said about drinking and 13-year-olds. It isn't 13-year-olds that are down the park drinking - it is the older ones. If gates are going to be closed at 7pm on Friday and Saturday, this will not be a deterrent, as the older youths will just climb over them.

Some of the younger youths receive ASBOs (Anti Social Behaviour Orders) for doing nothing at all, just sitting around and being quiet.

I have several friends with more than two such ASBOs. A friend of mine received one, and on the slip given to him by the police it stated that he was charged with underage drinking when he hadn't had a drop.

I would also like to add, the caretaker down Romilly park always has something to say to us while were down there, mainly accusing us of drinking when we have nothing to do with that. We are well away from the park by 10pm, so at midnight the older youths still there.

This is all I would like to say so the residents aren't accusing the wrong people.

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