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'How I beat the bullies' 'How I beat the bullies'
(10 minutes later)
By Andrew Bomford Reporter, BBC Radio 4's PM Sharon Hodgkinson said if she could do it, so could othersBy Andrew Bomford Reporter, BBC Radio 4's PM Sharon Hodgkinson said if she could do it, so could others
The case of Fiona Pilkington, who killed herself and her disabled daughter after a decade of taunts and abuse by youths at their home in Leicestershire, left many people shocked at how neighbours can treat each other.The case of Fiona Pilkington, who killed herself and her disabled daughter after a decade of taunts and abuse by youths at their home in Leicestershire, left many people shocked at how neighbours can treat each other.
Some Bolton residents, though, have shown the scourge of anti-social behaviour can be successfully tackled - but only after a lot of hard work and even some personal danger.Some Bolton residents, though, have shown the scourge of anti-social behaviour can be successfully tackled - but only after a lot of hard work and even some personal danger.
It began for Sharon Hodgkinson as it might for any of us.It began for Sharon Hodgkinson as it might for any of us.
Large groups of rowdy teenagers had gathered outside her home; she closed the curtains and hoped they would go away.Large groups of rowdy teenagers had gathered outside her home; she closed the curtains and hoped they would go away.
But they did not and instead their numbers swelled. Often there were thirty or forty young people, kicking footballs, shouting, drinking, taking drugs, playing music and abusing passers-by.But they did not and instead their numbers swelled. Often there were thirty or forty young people, kicking footballs, shouting, drinking, taking drugs, playing music and abusing passers-by.
It often went on until the early hours of the morning.It often went on until the early hours of the morning.
"It was like sleep deprivation," remembers Sharon."It was like sleep deprivation," remembers Sharon.
Her children could not go out to play. Whenever she set foot out of the door, she would be shouted at.Her children could not go out to play. Whenever she set foot out of the door, she would be shouted at.
Their car alarm was regularly set off. If she asked the troublemakers to go elsewhere, they would tell her that this was their street, and it was she who should go.Their car alarm was regularly set off. If she asked the troublemakers to go elsewhere, they would tell her that this was their street, and it was she who should go.
Life on Shackleton Grove in Bolton became miserable.Life on Shackleton Grove in Bolton became miserable.
Frustratingly slowFrustratingly slow
So Sharon, a mother of six, contacted the anti-social behaviour team at Bolton At Home, the Housing Association responsible for council houses in the town.So Sharon, a mother of six, contacted the anti-social behaviour team at Bolton At Home, the Housing Association responsible for council houses in the town.
Fortunately for her they listened, and provided a sympathetic ear 24 hours a day.Fortunately for her they listened, and provided a sympathetic ear 24 hours a day.
But dealing with anti-social behaviour is time-consuming and frustratingly slow, as Sharon was to discover.But dealing with anti-social behaviour is time-consuming and frustratingly slow, as Sharon was to discover.
First she was given a diary to record what happened, when it happened, and how she felt about it.First she was given a diary to record what happened, when it happened, and how she felt about it.
"One of the questions that always cropped up when I was writing how I felt was: 'Why do the police seemingly do nothing?'" Sharon said."One of the questions that always cropped up when I was writing how I felt was: 'Why do the police seemingly do nothing?'" Sharon said.
"It left me with a feeling of being very vulnerable. You'd call the police, they'd come, they'd have words with them and perhaps move a group of youths off the street."It left me with a feeling of being very vulnerable. You'd call the police, they'd come, they'd have words with them and perhaps move a group of youths off the street.
"But you'd know full well that as soon as the police were gone, they'd soon be back.""But you'd know full well that as soon as the police were gone, they'd soon be back."
She was also given a video camera and started to record particular local residents who seemed to be causing most of the trouble.She was also given a video camera and started to record particular local residents who seemed to be causing most of the trouble.
My stubbornness made me dig my heels in: 'I'm right, you're wrong, I will stand up for what is right' Sharon HodgkinsonMy stubbornness made me dig my heels in: 'I'm right, you're wrong, I will stand up for what is right' Sharon Hodgkinson
The problem was that the more she did, the more of a target she became. She started to get death threats, windows of both her house and her car were smashed.The problem was that the more she did, the more of a target she became. She started to get death threats, windows of both her house and her car were smashed.
Sharon showed me one of the videos she filmed. It was midnight and one of her neighbours, Jason Howarth, was shouting abuse at her from the street. He threatened to burn her house down. His language was vile.Sharon showed me one of the videos she filmed. It was midnight and one of her neighbours, Jason Howarth, was shouting abuse at her from the street. He threatened to burn her house down. His language was vile.
She said: "I needed a lot of support. If I hadn't have had the support from my husband and my family and my anti-social behaviour officer, I would have given up. I would have moved away.She said: "I needed a lot of support. If I hadn't have had the support from my husband and my family and my anti-social behaviour officer, I would have given up. I would have moved away.
"I think it was my stubbornness that made me dig my heels in: 'I'm right. You're wrong, and I will stand up for what is right.'""I think it was my stubbornness that made me dig my heels in: 'I'm right. You're wrong, and I will stand up for what is right.'"
"But there have been times when windows have been breaking and he's threatening to burn my house down, and I'm thinking 'Why am I putting my family through this?'""But there have been times when windows have been breaking and he's threatening to burn my house down, and I'm thinking 'Why am I putting my family through this?'"
But Sharon was eventually successful.But Sharon was eventually successful.
With the evidence she had collected and her testimony in court, three problem neighbours were evicted from the area.With the evidence she had collected and her testimony in court, three problem neighbours were evicted from the area.
They included Jason Howarth, the man who had abused her on video. He was also jailed for 70 days for breaching an injunction banning him from the street.They included Jason Howarth, the man who had abused her on video. He was also jailed for 70 days for breaching an injunction banning him from the street.
Snow successSnow success
Paul Bretherton, who manages the anti-social behaviour team at Bolton At Home, said their partnership approach to the problem was vital.Paul Bretherton, who manages the anti-social behaviour team at Bolton At Home, said their partnership approach to the problem was vital.
His team works closely with the police, council services, and other agencies and they share information all the time.His team works closely with the police, council services, and other agencies and they share information all the time.
But he says the real solution always lies within the community itself.But he says the real solution always lies within the community itself.
FROM THE PM PROGRAMME More from PMFROM THE PM PROGRAMME More from PM
"It's all about the people - they're the most important thing," he said."It's all about the people - they're the most important thing," he said.
"We had one couple in court giving evidence for us on their 52nd wedding anniversary."We had one couple in court giving evidence for us on their 52nd wedding anniversary.
"And when people like Sharon stand up we often get more complaints coming in from the estates. But we see that as a good thing, because it shows it's been going on but now people have the courage to come forward.""And when people like Sharon stand up we often get more complaints coming in from the estates. But we see that as a good thing, because it shows it's been going on but now people have the courage to come forward."
For Sharon Hodgkinson, the moment she knew it had all been worth it came earlier this year when it started snowing.For Sharon Hodgkinson, the moment she knew it had all been worth it came earlier this year when it started snowing.
"Every child was out of the house and their parents were out too."Every child was out of the house and their parents were out too.
"Everyone was talking, and everyone was having a good time. I stood back and looked at what was happening and thought 'This is why I did it, this is why I stood up and said no.'""Everyone was talking, and everyone was having a good time. I stood back and looked at what was happening and thought 'This is why I did it, this is why I stood up and said no.'"
"If normal little me can do it, so can others. They just need the support.""If normal little me can do it, so can others. They just need the support."