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'Listen to youth' say councillors 'Help young' call follows attack
(about 1 hour later)
Two councillors from a community affected by anti-social behaviour have called on colleagues to listen to young people and improve services for them. Councillors in a Swansea Valley town affected by anti-social behaviour have urged colleagues to listen to the young and avoid using them as "easy targets".
Dai Howells and Byron Lewis from Pontarddulais Town Council have also put together a three point plan of how to tackle the issue in the area. Dai Howells and Byron Lewis, from Pontarddulais, say only a small number of young people cause problems.
Their call has come after a meeting organised by the council in response to an attack on resident Peter Matthews. Local MP Martin Caton said a more "holistic approach" was needed, but also criticised parents for not exercising their responsibilities.
He was treated for severe head injuries after he confronted a gang of youths. The spotlight fell on the town after an attack on resident Peter Matthews, 56.
Mr Matthews, who is 56-years-old, is now recovering at home. Mr Matthews is now recovering at home after he was left unconscious and bleeding in the street when trying to stop a gang of noisy youths outside his home.
Earlier this month, he was left unconscious and bleeding in the street after trying to stop noise outside his home.
It's easy to attack young people and the police. Much harder is looking past the problems people have and trying to find out what can be done to turn our community around Councillors Dai Howells and Byron LewisIt's easy to attack young people and the police. Much harder is looking past the problems people have and trying to find out what can be done to turn our community around Councillors Dai Howells and Byron Lewis
Around 250 people in Pontarddulais attended a public meeting along with police and town councillors on Wednesday to voice concerns about anti-social behaviour in the area.Around 250 people in Pontarddulais attended a public meeting along with police and town councillors on Wednesday to voice concerns about anti-social behaviour in the area.
Mr Howells and Mr Lewis said it was wrong to tar all young people as being the same and that it was only a small number that were causing problems. Mr Howells and Mr Lewis said it was wrong to tar all young people as the same and urged fellow councillors to stop treating them "as easy political targets".
They called on fellow councillors to stop treating young people "as easy political targets". The councillors, who are independents, said people could not criticise youths if they did not do anything to help them.
In a joint statement the councillors, who are independents, said people could not criticise youths if they did not do anything to help them. Their plan to tackle anti-social behaviour includes calling meetings with young people to find out their wants and needs and creating a forum for youths.
They have put forward a three point plan of how to tackle the issue of anti-social behaviour in their wards which includes calling meetings with young people to find out their wants and needs and creating a forum for youths in the area.
They also want to work closely with police and others to start to "undo the opinion that all young people are bad".They also want to work closely with police and others to start to "undo the opinion that all young people are bad".
"It's easy to attack young people and the police," they said in a joint statement."It's easy to attack young people and the police," they said in a joint statement.
"Much harder is looking past the problems people have and trying to find out what can be done to turn our community around.""Much harder is looking past the problems people have and trying to find out what can be done to turn our community around."
If you talk to people in Pontarddulais, they will tell you that there are 13 and 14-year-olds hanging around off licenses getting young adults to buy liquor for them Martin Caton MP If you talk to people in Pontarddulais, they will tell you that there are 13 and 14-year-olds hanging around off-licences getting young adults to buy liquor for them Martin Caton MP
Martin Caton, MP for Gower, which includes Pontarddulais, agreed a more "holistic approach" was needed toward the youngsters in question but also criticised parents for not exercising their parental responsibilities. Mr Caton, the Labour Gower MP whose constituency includes Pontarddulais, said anti-social behaviour in youths was fuelled by alcohol and drugs which were easier than ever for youngsters to access.
He also said anti-social behaviour in youths was fuelled by alcohol and drugs which were easier than ever for youngsters to access. "If you talk to people in Pontarddulais, they will tell you that there are 13 and 14-year-olds hanging around off-licences getting young adults to buy liquor for them," he said.
"If you talk to people in Pontarddulais, they will tell you that there are 13 and 14-year-olds hanging around off licenses getting young adults to buy liquor for them," he said.
"There are also drugs that will exacerbate the problem and people have got more money to get hold of it.""There are also drugs that will exacerbate the problem and people have got more money to get hold of it."
Mr Caton also said he believed peer pressure was more intense for young people growing up today than it ever has been and this accounted for some of the trouble.Mr Caton also said he believed peer pressure was more intense for young people growing up today than it ever has been and this accounted for some of the trouble.
Public meeting Maria Battle, the acting children's commissioner for Wales, said she understood concerns over drink-related anti-social behaviour and agreed that the sale of alcohol needed to be curbed, but said that communities must work together to tackle the problem.
Maria Battle, acting Children's Commissioner, said she understood concerns over drink-related antisocial behaviour and agreed that the sale of alcohol needed to be curbed, but said that communities must work together to tackle the problem.
Mr Caton said he would be attending another public meeting in Pontarddulais about the issue next Thursday.Mr Caton said he would be attending another public meeting in Pontarddulais about the issue next Thursday.
Earlier in the week, the police had used Swansea's Evening Post newspaper to publish the names and work mobile phones of more than 50 community based constables and 60 police community support officers.Earlier in the week, the police had used Swansea's Evening Post newspaper to publish the names and work mobile phones of more than 50 community based constables and 60 police community support officers.
Police chiefs said the numbers were not for emergencies or incidents but for people to contact officers with any concerns.Police chiefs said the numbers were not for emergencies or incidents but for people to contact officers with any concerns.