There's a chance to talk about anti-social behaviour in Rye next week - and to hear from some of the groups and organisations trying to find a solution. It takes places at Tilling Green Community Centre on Saturday, May 31 between 10:30am and 12:30pm.
The meeting has been arranged by Rother District councillor for Rye and Winchelsea, Simon McGurk who says the two hour meeting will include Sussex Police. "We'll have a range of organisations and agencies, and we hope businesses, with stands and information. They'll all be local. The idea behind it is to share information with residents about all the things that are happening. We will have some dedicated spaces for people to talk with police or the other organisations about individual issues or to raise concerns."
As well as the police, representatives from Tilling Green Residents Association, Rye Youth Zone, Southern Housing, Rother District Council and Rye Chamber of Commerce are expected to attended, along with youth workers.
In recent weeks Rye News has reported on a number of instances of anti-social behaviour including: smashed windows, shoplifting, hate crimes, verbal and physical abuse and vandalism. In the worst incident residents in a local care home were left distressed after young people gained access to their building.
So does Rye have an anti-social behaviour problem? Cllr McGurk thinks it needs addressing. "Some of it is really nasty and has had a significant effect on the victims. There's been lots of concern about it on social media. I've had a lot of correspondence as a local councillor and one of the things people tell me is that they don't know where to go with the problems that they're experiencing. So this event is primarily about letting people know how to report anti-social behaviour and hate crime, and what to expect when people do report it."
He says the other aim of the event at the Tilling Green Community Centre is to engage local people in supporting the town's young people. "Anti-social behaviour isn't always about young people by any means, but they are the most vulnerable to becoming involved in it because of peer pressure, trying to find their way in the world, and trying to establish an identity."
Sussex Police have an important role in improving things, as part of a multi-agency approach, he says. "It is their responsibility as we're talking about crime and potential criminal behaviour. We've got some really good engaged local officers and I know how responsive the police can be locally. Yes we want them in uniform around the town, but that is impossible as much as we would like it. We don't necessarily want them walking around the streets all day while crimes are going on elsewhere. But there are a range of interventions that also include housing associations and councils working with families."
