Miles Jermy POLICE are promising to use the full force of the law to clamp down on troublemakers in a coastal village.Action is being stepped up following reports of anti-social behaviour on a Hopton housing estate.

Miles Jermy

POLICE are promising to use the full force of the law to clamp down on troublemakers in a coastal village.

Action is being stepped up following reports of anti-social behaviour on a Hopton housing estate.

Members of the village's safer neighbourhood team have been targeting Ives Way, where residents have complained of being intimidated by tearaway children and teenagers.

The Mercury reported last week how retired builder David Jenkins has endured constant harassment and abuse from yobs in the two years he has been living there.

Officers have been targeting the road delivering forms that residents can fill in to record any trouble.

A meeting has also been held with Suffolk Heritage housing association, which owns the properties in Ives Way, to discuss the problem.

Sgt Martin Petersen, of southern villages' safer neighbourhood team, said: “We have paid visits to residents and want to work with them to cut the incidents of anti-social behaviour.

“A meeting was held with Suffolk Heritage to raise the concerns expressed by some of the people living there.

“There has been trouble in the past with some residents who have been replaced by new tenants, but it is not a long running saga with a particular problem family.

“Any reports of incidents will be treated with the utmost seriousness and we will not hesitate to take action against offenders.”

Grandfather of seven Mr Jenkins, 60, who suffers from emphysema and osteoarthritis, welcomed the promise of a tough response to deal with the problem that he says has made his and wife Brenda's lives a misery.

“Tenants should have to commit themselves to certain standards of behaviour if they want to live here,” he said.

“I hope the article in the Mercury has done some good and I am not worried about any repercussions. The decent people have to stand up and be counted.

“When I raise the issue with Suffolk Heritage they tell me I am the only one complaining which is totally untrue.

“The problem is there are many other people who are affected but are too frightened to do anything about it.”

Parish Council chairman Mike Butcher criticised Suffolk Heritage for not acknowledging the problems caused by some tenants in Ives Way.

“The Ives Way development has resulted in an increase in anti-social behaviour in the village,” he said.

“There have been burnt out cars left around and kids are running amuck causing havoc for some of the elderly people.

“Suffolk Heritage doesn't want the parish council involved in the issue - I have tried to raise it, but have been told it is nothing to do with me.

“There was a car burnt out in the village this week and there are often groups of teenagers wandering the streets threatening trouble.

“I even sat in the village hall one night trying to catch people who had been smashing the windows.”

The police are planning more visits to Ives Way with the local Suffolk Heritage housing manager to further address residents concerns.

Caroline Smith, regional director Suffolk Heritage, said: “We have written to tenants in Ives Way advising them of tenancy obligations and asking them to contact us if they experience any trouble.

“We will keep monitoring the situation and if there are any incidents we will take it to the Great Yarmouth anti-social behaviour action group to see what the most appropriate course of action is.”

(Blob) A car was burnt out after it was broken into and pushed into the road in Hopton last week. The Rover saloon had been parked in the driveway of a house on Coast Road close to the junction with Manor Road before it was set alight about 3am on February 19.

Anyone with information should contact Pc Simon Fisk at Gorleston on 0845 456 4567 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.