Police act over yobs

Officers have been carrying out anti-social behaviour patrols on Friday and Saturday evenings in areas of the town known to be trouble spots.

They have been speaking to youngsters at places like Luxfords Field, the Victoria playing fields, Hempstead Lane playground and at the Browns Lane underpass.

Now, following a new spate of complaints about trouble in Browns Lane, Insp Richard Allum, who is in charge of policing in the town, has promised that further action will be taken there.

'We are aware of these youngsters and we have shifted them about a bit, but what I will ask patrols to do now when they go up there is to take the names and details so that I can write to their parents,' said Insp Allum.

Parents would be told that their children had been at a place at a time when complaints had been received and advised of their responsibilities to get them involved in tackling the problem.

Dog walker Mr Robert Nagle, who regularly walks from his High Hurstwood home into Uckfield, wrote to the Express last week concerned about smashed glass in the underpass and litter generally on the Manor Park. 'As a citizen I am worried about the lack of care for the environment,' said Mr Nagle.

Miss Bernadette Carey, manager of the One Stop shop in Browns Lane, said she regularly phoned the police on a Friday night because of gangs gathering in the area. She was concerned about vandalism, noise and threatening behaviour.

Two members of staff had left because of the problems.

Town and district councillor Mrs Martha Whittle said: 'Wealden can come and sweep the underpass twice a week as they do, nevertheless if there is a problem of youths congregating and making a nuisance of themselves that is a police matter.'

But Insp Allum said he believed that the more people involved in seeking solutions the more likely they were to have some effect.

He questioned whether the Browns Lane underpass, which had always been a gathering place, was really needed.