The UK town where crime is so bad it's 'worse than the Bronx'

-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


People living in a UK town have claimed crime has become so bad it's 'worse than the Bronx'. Residents in the town in south Wales say it has become a 'no-go area' after dark.

Teenagers reportedly intimidate elderly people so much that they no longer feel safe sitting at the bus station or even visiting the town on evenings and weekends. Items have also been thrown at shoppers and traders during the weekend market.

Resident say thugs chuck towards shop windows and young people carry knives. Younger children are also 'targeted' by older youths.

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People in Blackwood, Caerphilly county, did not want to be named out of fear, WalesOnline reports. One trader spoke said: "I value my windows too much."

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In one recent incident, a teenager allegedly chased another with a knife before the victim managed to go inside the home of a family friend. The town council then called a meeting over what witnesses said was issues caused by a large group of more than 20 teens.

But even that was disrupted by yobs who got into the town council building on Tuesday evening and refused to leave. Police were called over fears there could be serious injuries during the confrontation.

Officers arrived quickly enough for the perpetrators to disperse. But one grabbed a roll of food caddy bags before opening them across the market square and the bus station.

Others reportedly kicked bins over with rubbish strewn across streets in the town. Gwent Police said a new multi-agency operation is now in place in Blackwood town centre.

Several people have been arrested in recent days on suspicion of public order offences. Deputy mayor George Etheridge said: "Blackwood has become worse than the Bronx with anti-social behaviour.

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"It is completely out of control. Blackwood bus station is a continual problem with e-scooters and bikes being ridden through the bus station and youngsters terrorising people.

"We have elderly people waiting for buses who have complained about not feeling safe and are intimidated. Bus drivers are abused and have things thrown at them and bus windows are targeted with stones.

"Bus station windows are being smashed and time table holders defaced and destroyed. Graffiti covers the walls of the bus station." It comes as Caerphilly county borough council has proposed major cuts to deal with a £47m shortfall.

Cuts include potentially removing safety wardens from Blackwood. Cllr Etheridge said: "The town council has put two proposals to Caerphilly council, which has just rejected them as it says it is not cost effective, but the town council has offered to pay.

"Caerphilly council has put a proposal forward to cut the community safety wardens at a time where they are a vital asset to the community and a lifeline to businesses and residents. I am also concerned as if the safety wardens are lost it means taxpayers’ money has also been wasted on a new CCTV van that will sit idle."

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Police have put dispersal orders in place but residents say they do not work. Cllr Etheridge said: "Gwent Police have put dispersal orders in place.

"These only move the problem from one area to another until the order finishes and then the gangs of youths return to the hotspot of Blackwood bus station and the town centre. Knife crime seems to allegedly be on the rise and reports on social media and complaints to councillors back this.

"Innocent younger children are being targeted by groups of older teenagers who are looking to cause potential harm. Businesses are having to close early due to safety concerns and fear for staff safety.

"The problem is as much as the youngsters are a pain, you have to admit these teenagers have got very little. When we were kids there were various clubs whereas now there is nothing for them."

Cllr Kevin Etheridge took issues to the chief constable and the police and crime commissioner, who met with councillors on Thursday to try to thrash out a plan. He said: "We had a productive meeting with Gwent Police but I had to write to the chief constable and the police and crime commissioner before this was taken seriously enough for a meeting.

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"I do feel it’s quite sad it took me to write that letter for them to intervene. This problem has become very very bad in the last six weeks. People are now telling me they don’t go to Blackwood in the evenings and late afternoons because they tell me it’s now a no-go area.

"This is crippling for our local businesses. We have been encouraged by what we have heard in the meeting and now is time for action and not words."

Cllr Andrew Short, a mechanic and antiques dealer who works across the road from the bus station, said he stands with people waiting for their bus because the bus station has become too intimidating for them. He said: "It is worse at the bus station and around the bus station.

"Yesterday evening there must have been 40 police here. There are always plenty of police most nights. But it hasn’t changed much. It’s never been as bad as it is now. I can’t even describe it.

"I’ve worked in Splott and Grangetown and yet I’ve never seen the level of disrespect and abuse you get here. Gangs of youths hang around the bus station and they’ll start on everyone and anyone for no reason. It’s just fun for them isn’t it? They get a kick out of intimidating people.

"I have elderly people who want to use the bus coming here and waiting with me before their bus arrives. That’s how bad this is. They’re actually coming over to the mechanic and waiting here. They’re scared stiff and you can’t blame them.

"It’s dangerous over there, so much so the bus drivers have panic alarms. They’re not kids we're talking about. They’re 12 to 18. I’d now go as far to say it’s not safe myself. The police are fighting a losing battle because of all the nutters.

"There’s nothing for youngsters here to do. That’s part of the problem. Grassroots facilities and services have slowly drained away in Blackwood and that's where the problem really lies."

The town's 70-year-old market has also been targeted, locals say. Witnesses claim that missiles have been thrown over a wall near the market which have fallen on traders’ stalls.

One trader did not want to be named because the people responsible knew him and he feared they might target his business. He said some shoppers have stopped going to the market.

Ewan Thayer, who works in the gym next to the market, said: "There are loads of teenagers constantly messing about outside. But it goes beyond that. We’ve had them breaking into the gym and on one occasion they sprayed a can of aerosol in members’ faces.

"It’s intimidating for older members especially. It’s a real issue. Sometimes there are 20 of them. Two weeks ago five of them came in running around in here and then locked themselves in the disabled toilets.

"They were drinking alcohol. I’ve got it all on camera. There has been an incident earlier this month where a teenager has chased another teenager with a knife up the hill and into the housing estate. The teenager being chased ended up safe in a house of a family friend before they called the police. It's a crazy situation."

Police have put gates either side of the high street in Cwmbran to prevent people racing up the street in cars,. One resident, who has lived in the town for more than 30 years, said. "In the day it's quiet because they might be in school and because there's no market here.

"Once the market's here you get them up on the top hurling things down. In the night time it's very intimidating for anyone else here because they congregate in this area and for old people especially it feels dangerous.

"There is an alleyway which runs out of the town centre and into the housing estates above so they can get away from police pretty easily. There have always been problems though. We did have issues with people racing their cars through the high street.

"On Thursday nights they'd meet there and race their cars. It was mad. Now they've got gates either side and they close the high street off every day." Chief Inspector Stevie Warden of Gwent Police said issues of anti-social behaviour in Blackwood have been 'mindless' and 'unacceptable'.

He said: "Our officers continue to work with our community safety partnership to do all we can to tackle anti-social behaviour in the town. The bus station, for instance, is one of our known areas for anti-social behaviour and that is factored into our daily patrols and tailored Operation Lumley plans.

"We are aware of the recent reports of disorder over the last few weeks and councillors’ concerns, and we continue to work collaboratively with partner agencies to tackle this. In the last two weeks we’ve issued numerous dispersal orders, arrested and charged a 17-year-old girl for breaching a community protection notice and we will continue to carry out regular patrols in the area and take appropriate action against anti-social behaviour.

"Positively, we’ve seen a decrease in anti-social behaviour in Blackwood in recent days but our work does not stop here. Tackling the issue goes beyond just policing, we would ask parents, guardians and carers to consider – do you know where your children are socialising, and do you know if they're involved in what is being reported to us?

"And we urge them to have conversations to help these young people understand that not only are these actions having a negative impact on those around them, that any offences committed by them could negatively impact their futures - whether that's stopping from getting their dream job, applying for a car loan, or the chance to travel." Caerphilly council was also contacted for comment.