Plea for youth help after anti-social behaviour

Sand dunes in Bude can attract teenage anti-social behaviour in the summer

An appeal by a police officer in a Cornish town for somewhere for young people to go has prompted a big response from the community.

PC Nina Sargent took to social media calling for a joint effort to tackle the issue after an anti-social behaviour incident at Bude Football Club last month where bins were set alight and glass was found on the pitch.

There are activities on offer already, including sport clubs, scouts and a weekly youth club, but some have argued there needs to be a permanent building free to use.

Bude and Stratton Town Council said it was looking at options.

PC Nina Sargent said she was surprised at how many people replied to her plea

PC Sargent said she was contacted by Bude AFC as anti-social behaviour was a common issue.

Mark Harfield, who is on the club's committee, said incidents tended to involve teenagers aged between 14 and 18.

He said: "It 's quite a regular occurrence when there's a lot of kids up here.

"We have good kids, but we do have ones that stay up here overnight, partying, smashing things up."

After her social media posts received dozens of replies, PC Sargent said she felt she had to do something to try and help bring everyone together.

She said: "In the summer, we've got the dunes we've got the coast and it does lend itself to kids being out drinking, taking drugs and general anti-social behaviour.

"Not all families can support their children how they'd like because of economics. But, in an ideal world, somewhere for these kids to go would be great."

Volunteer Jamie Wright says there've been calls for a purpose-built building for years

Jamie Wright runs a popular weekly youth club called Blend as a volunteer, and it currently has to use the town's rugby club as a base.

He said: "There's always going to be that 10% to 15% that wouldn't want to engage in any kind of youth activity.

"But it would be great if this [club] could be six days a week in a purpose-built building. I think we'd be hitting 70% to 80% of those young people and giving them something to be proud of."

Bude and Stratton Town Council's lead for youth services Mike Dawe said the authority was acutely aware of the issue, with a survey suggesting young people wanted an area to call their own.

He said: "One of our big projects is expanding the current skatepark.

"There are plans for a youth council, and investigations are ongoing regarding a few buildings we own and funding streams for a facility we would provide."

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