Durrington residents "appalled"

Only two of the promised Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) have been given to youths who have terrorised homes in the Shelby Road area.

Sue O'Keeffe, of the Shelby Road Residents Association, said: "It is still a farce".

Mrs O'Keeffe said a representative from Southern Housing, which owns homes around the Shelby Road area, assured tenants that five ABCs would be issued.

The non-legally binding contracts are signed by children, parents, Southern Housing, police, and any other relevant agencies. But the two which have been given were not drawn up and signed until September 26.

Mrs O'Keeffe added: "The trouble has not been down to two youths, there are between 12 and 15 of them.

"These kids are laughing."

She said residents were still being harassed by gangs of yobs on the estate. They suffered a summer of violence, vandalism and abuse which resulted in tenants guarding their homes with baseball bats.

As recently as last weekend (October 4) a women who lives on Shelby Road was horrified when youths blew cannabis smoke into the face of her baby grandson.

Paul Cotton, regional housing manager for Southern Housing, said: "It's dragged on too long already but we will get there. The reason only two have been signed up to are that there needs to be co-operation between Southern Housing and police to organise times for these to be drawn up. The police are relatively inexperienced in the use of ABCs."

He added: "It's been a bit of a learning curve for them and us. Now it should be more simple and straightforward."

Mr Cotton said that if the ABCs are broken Southern Housing may apply for Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) or evict the yobs and their families from their homes. If the contract is breached we will have a look at other enforcement action. This might be an ASBO."

Durrington police officer Tony Taylor said: "ABCs are not the only way we are looking at to help curb this type of behaviour by youths in the area. At recent meetings, we have been looking at putting in place a number of actions with a view to diverting the youths to constructive activities."