Tolworth estate fears gang warfare (From Surrey Comet)

Tolworth estate fears gang warfare after police order ends

7:10am Monday 15th December 2008 in Search By Kerry Grove

Tolworth residents fear gang warfare could come to their estate, after special police powers to disperse groups came to an end.

The dispersal order, granted for the first time on the Sunray estate in June this year, was only meant to be short term.

It has been replaced in recent weeks with mediation by an outside company employed by the police and council.

But concerns were raised after the teenagers involved in the “community conference” gave themselves a collective name, sparking fears that rival gangs could view it as their territory.

Neighbourhood watch coordinator Adam Lotun said: “Everybody is apprehensive now. There is a fear that the small group is now in the form of a ‘gang’ and there will be continued antisocial behaviour and issues associated with gang culture.”

Police had the power to arrest groups of people if they congregated on the estate and returned within 24 hours, but it was never used in the five-and-a-half months the order was in place.

On one occasion, a motorist was threatened with a baseball bat and residents had to dodge motorbikes being ridden on pavements.

Mr Lotun criticised officers for not being tough enough and threatened to take vigilante action when police failed to respond immediately to his calls.

The mediation, by company Peaceworks, had its second session with residents and teenagers on Tuesday this week.

Groups of teenagers and residents will be spoken to separately first, but a “community conference” is planned to bring everyone together in the new year.

• Do you live on the Sunray estate? Have you been the victim of antisocial behaviour? Let us know by email or phone the newsroom on 020 8330 9546.