Alan Lowndes says he and his family are being victimised by teenagers on the Clairval Estate. (Picture by Daniel Guerin, 0563101)
A FATHER of four says he fears for his family’s safety because of abusive teenagers on the estate on which they live.
Alan Lowndes said groups of up to 20 youths regularly gather outside his house on the Clairval Estate and they have smashed glass bottles, broken his gate and kicked footballs at his windows.
The 43-year-old Checkers worker, who is often too afraid to step outside his own front door, claimed the authorities simply did not want to know. ‘Every time I walk outside, they show off to their mates and hurl abuse at me. Their parents don’t ever do anything about it and have even accused me of antisocial behaviour.
‘It’s become so unbearable that I’m thinking of asking the States to allow me to use an alternative entrance to my property through one of my neighbour’s gardens so that I don’t have to face them any more.’
Mr Lowndes is married and has three sons, aged two, seven and 13, and a 15-year-old daughter.
The family have lived on the estate for five years.
‘I’ve asked the authorities to move us, but they told me that then it would just be the next tenant who gets abused. I think that’s a disgusting attitude. They even told me that if any of my windows get smashed, I’ll have to pay for the damage myself.’
Mr Lowndes claimed that on one occasion his younger children were playing in the garden when a plank of wood was thrown over the fence and only narrowly missed them.
‘I’ve asked the police about installing CCTV, but they said they couldn’t because the situation wasn’t bad enough.
‘That’s easy for them to say – they don’t have to live like this.’
He also said that he had considered moving into the private sector, but not many places would take such a sizeable family.
‘Because both my wife and I work full-time, we’re paying a lot of money to live in this States house, but we are leading a miserable existence.
‘If something isn’t done to end this, I am going to be forced to take matters into my own hands.’
Chief Inspector Ruari Hardy confirmed police had received complaints from Mr Lowndes on two occasions.
‘I can understand his frustration and the impact it’s having on him. However, on both occasions there were no criminal offences committed and on one occasion we did speak to a number of young people in the area and advised them on their future conduct,’ he said.
‘Police would urge anyone experiencing antisocial-behaviour problems to contact the police station, report their concerns and allow an officer to deal with the problem.
‘We would discourage anyone from taking their own steps to resolve these types of problem, for this type of action may only increase issues and invite additional problems.’
A Housing spokesman said: ‘The department does not comment on individual cases. However, it is the policy of the department to work with the police to identify and take appropriate action against the perpetrators of any abuse or threatening behaviour that takes place on our estates. Under the terms of our tenancy agreement, the replacement of any glazing to windows is the responsibility of the tenant.’
Article posted on 15th April, 2008 - 2.29pm
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