A TOWN deputy has called for more police on the beat. But John Gollop said that while he also wanted to see more community policing, he did not want to make out that Town was generally a dangerous place.
‘I don’t want to overplay the dangers of going to Town,’ said Deputy Gollop, who also sits on the police consultative group.
‘But there are difficult incidents which need dealing with during the day and more at night-time.’
He was speaking after seeing footage of an allegedly unprovoked daylight assault on a 15-year-old boy outside the Markets, which was featured on the video-sharing website YouTube.
Guernsey Press readers, who wish to remain anonymous, suggest the incident escalated into another fight shortly afterwards.
One claimed a group of chavs - believed to be friends of the punched boy, Tobias Benford - chased a youth through Town and attacked him in retaliation.
Another said the Market Street assault was not unprovoked, claiming it was a happy-slap attack which backfired as the footage was recorded by friends of the boy who was assaulted.
Attempts were made to contact the alleged attacker of Tobias yesterday after his identity was revealed by the Guernsey Press.
A man, understood to be his father, said his son was not prepared to talk about the incident.
‘He is not going to make any comments to the Press,’ he said.
Police declined to comment.
Deputy Gollop blamed a lack of youth facilities for incidents of anti-social behaviour.
‘There is still no cinema or theatre for young people which is close to St Peter Port,’ he said.
‘Nor is there a strategy of non-alcoholic establishments for the young.’
Deputy Gollop wants those drawing up plans for the Town seafront to consider the St Peter Port community.
‘They need to look at what they’re going to give back to the community and encourage families to come to Town,’ he said.
‘They need to look at where this problem of trouble is coming from and they are going to discourage it.’
Article posted on 14th April, 2007 - 12.00am
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