'Out of control' youths scare shoppers at New Invention Square
A group of 'totally out of control' youths have been blasted by a councillor after carrying out criminal damage to a historic building and scaring shoppers at a precinct.
Willenhall North Councillor Ian Shires said a small 'mindless' group of teenagers have been causing trouble at the New Invention Square and the community garden opposite the site over the summer holidays.
The latest occurrence has seen the group damage a shelter repaired and transformed into a place for young people to relax.
There has also been criminal damage to a disused Roman Catholic Church hut.
Councillor Shires said he felt 'let down' by the vandalism after working with young people in the area to give them the shelter, with an agreement made that if it was looked after, a better facility would be installed.
He said: "The sad part in all of this is the feeling of being let down.
"Earlier this year the youth shelter was repaired following meetings with young people in the area and the council's youth service.
"The plan was that if they could prove that they could be trusted and respect the shelter then a bid would be made to replace it with a larger purpose built shelter.
"That has gone right on the back-burner now and because of their actions the damaged shelter will probably be removed."
According to councillor Shires, the vandalism at the disused Roman Catholic Church hut on the community green opposite the square 'crossed a line' into criminal damage and is being taken seriously by the police.
He said that the area has had its fair share of trouble in the past but that the recent disturbances take things to a 'new level'.
The damage saw two poles from the kick rail which surrounds the green taken out of the ground, before they were used to attack the hut.
Councillor Shires said: "This group are totally out of control and this criminal damage has taken things to a new level.
"This latest incident is is being treated very seriously by all the agencies involved.
"Some of the measures proposed to tackle the problem include the use of acceptable behaviour contracts which can include curfews with links to community protection notices and community protection warnings."
The youths have also been accused of scaring shoppers by cycling dangerously, less than a month after a teenager from the area was ordered to pay more than £200 by magistrates in Walsall after being caught intimidating people by doing wheelies and riding at high speeds at the popular shopping site.
