MEDIA RELEASE
Issued: February 15, 2017
Councillors look to target anti-social behaviour
A working group of town councillors is to look into ways to target anti-social behaviour in Epping following a complaint about youths congregating in the High Street.
Town clerk Beverley Rumsey told Tuesday's council meeting that police have said they are aware of the situation and are patrolling the area.
She said: "They are aware of issues in the High Street and are working with schools and parents. They are keen to see if there is anything that we could do together."
Councillors were told that groups of youths gather around the off-licence and Collop Carpets shop in the High Street using bad language and also smoking and drinking.
She added: "They are aware of the situation at Collop Carpets and are working in the High Street in general and working with licensing (at Epping Forest District Council) and the Safer Communities team."
Deputy mayor Tony Church said the issue was not localised to the area outside the off-licence and Collop Carpets.
He said: "It's not alcohol-related. It's just a place to hang out. They gather in the churchyard. They go behind Club 195."
Councillor Hugh Pegrum suggested the council could call for more uniformed support in the High Street while councillor Jon Whitehouse encouraged residents to report any incidents as they occur even if they had alerted police to problems in the past.
Councillor Holly Whitbread will chair the working party and the issue will also be discussed at the annual town meeting.
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