A CO-ORDINATOR of a neighbourhood watch scheme has resigned in disgust at police inaction.

Councillor Zita Hobbs, who was criticised by Bushey residents in The Watford Observer on Friday, August 16, for her failure to curb the bad behaviour of youths terrorising elderly people and families, said she can no longer do the police's job.

She admitted young people aged nine to 20 have been causing havoc in the neighbourhood, in particular to the elderly residents of Collins Court.

She said it was not in her power to arrest people, she could only inform the police and Hertsmere Council. and pressure them to take action.

Councillor Hobbs said: "I am stepping down as neighbourhood coordinator, because I cannot do this job alone. The police have shown me no support and I would rather concentrate on my duty as a councillor."

She said the St James Ward was in desperate need of policing as it has a drugs problem. She said: "I have campaigned for CCTV and better street lights. I have presented residents petitions to Hertsmere Council, involved myself in youth clubs, but there is only so much I can do."

She said the police were aware of the problems her ward was encountering but had done nothing about it. She said: "I have listened to people's complaints and am fully sympathetic to their problems as I too am living in the heart of the problem. I too have heard children as young as nine, shouting in the early hours of the morning, or vandalising cars."

She said: "A lot of these children are not afraid of authority so it is difficult for ordinary people to control them. At the time of the election the police could not do enough for us, these days they are barely seen.

"When they are called they can take up to three hours, or do not come at all. The Collins Court warden is still waiting to hear from them about damage made to the home last week."

Bushey North Ward Councillor Robert Gamble, claimed Councillor Hobbs had worked tirelessly to draw the attention of the police and Hertsmere Council to the youth problems in the area. He said: "Anyone who is not aware of this is ignoring the Bushey Bulletins delivered to every household."

Councillor Gamble added: "In all this excitement we could be forgiven for not remembering that St James has two Conservative councillors. It is also worth remembering the Tories promised CCTV coverage in the area at the last local election and this has yet to materialise."

Councillor Dr Spencer Pitfield, leader of Bushey Conservatives, said: "The Conservative and Liberal Democrats are at one with this issue and I would confirm what Councillor Hobbs and Councillor Gamble have said."

August 23, 2002 14:30