Worried Resident

Feb 12, 08 - 7:11 PM

Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

In the past few weeks there has been a growing gang of young teenagers hanging around the entrance of Countrystore in the evenings.

I love teenagers, I was one once and will have one of my own very soon.

As a teenager growing up in Cookham, I don't remember hanging around the parade, being offensive and intimidating to everyone as being high on my list of 'fun' things to do. I had a life, homework and friends.

Why aren't they at home? How boring must it be to hang around outside a supermarket?

If anyone reading this is related to, or knows, one of them (I doubt they would read this website) could you please ask them that, at least, they don't crowd you when you walk past? And don't swear so much in front of little kids?

On a personal note, as someone recovering from chemotherapy and with very little hair, I was saddened by their pathetic comments aimed at me tonight. Sad, very sad.

resident

Feb 12th, 2008 - 7:32 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

What a horrible experience for you...I hope you told them you were recovering from chemotherapy...they should be shocked and humiliated into recognising the consequences of their comments....a while ago when it was incredibly snowy a group of passing teenagers threw a snowball at my car while I was reversing causing me to break suddenly and go into a skid. I was so incandesent with rage I got out of the car and screamed at them...i literally went mad for a second and it was quite cathartic!...the ring-leader was a complete tosser (and not just of snowballs!) who thought it was hilarious (though in restrospect I think he was actually petrified) but I have to say his friends realised they'd crossed a line and told him to pack it in and leave me alone. I think it's easy to lump them all togther but there may have been a 'good egg' in the pack who'd review his behaviour if you'd told them why your appearance was as it was.

Finally I would say that the issue of finding things for teenagers to do in Cookham is the kind of thing that the Cookham Plan should have focussed on ...it's a much bigger issue for us all going forward than a few cars in the Pound!

Resident

Feb 12th, 2008 - 10:40 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

If they are blocking the entrance to Countrystores then the Manager should talk to them or he should contact the local police to ensure that this is attended to. We apparently have a police presence in this village so I am sure this can be sorted quickly. I should add that whilst I have seen a load of youths hanging around Countrystore, the train station and Station Parade I haven't actually seen any police but from other postings on this website from 'Old Bill' I hope they actually exist!

JB.™

Feb 13th, 2008 - 10:06 AM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

I've also noticed large gangs of kids loitering around the station in the evenings, they were there last night generally misbehaving and being abusive to passers by.

Has there been a crackdown in maidenhead/marlow recently as they have only recently started to appear.

They also don't seem to be Cookham kids as they are far more yobbish than the kids you normally see around the village.

buzz off

Feb 13th, 2008 - 10:41 AM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

Maybe a couple of these would solve the problem

http://www.cctvdirect.co.uk/The+MOSQUITO.htm

Tony

Feb 13th, 2008 - 11:29 AM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

Interesting, i've just created an mp3 at 17hz, i'll play it full volume on my mobile on the train and see what reaction there is...

If it annoys all the obnoxious teenagers fantastic, it'll make a change from having to endure their swearing / loud music and so on.

calvin

Feb 13th, 2008 - 12:50 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

they just need there **** kicking

LizzyK

Feb 13th, 2008 - 1:30 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

There has been a lot of discussion on Mosquitos. Apparently people of over 40 can hear them and they cause a lot of distress to babies and animals. Surely it is much better to know where the young people are. By playing a high frequency noise may get them to go from that spot, but they are not going to disappear into thin air. I know if someone started doing that to me it would certainly antagonise me and probably the young people too and then you may really have vandalism.

Tony

Feb 13th, 2008 - 2:22 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

I suppose the real issue is why kids are hanging around by the station in the evening and making a nuisance of themselves and generally being abusive to commuters.

Are they local kids?
Or Troublemakers moved on from elsewhere who fare dodge on the trains to congregate in Cookham?

Can't Cookham become an area with Zero tolerance to loitering?

Grumpy bugger

Feb 13th, 2008 - 2:26 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

Lizzy are you Shami Chakrabarti in disguise?

Making excuses for their appalling behaviour?
... If we discipline them or discourage bad behaviour they will resort to vandalism!

Really come on, so the alternative is what?
Just let them continue in their anti social ways, can't infringe on the human rights of the little blighters can we.

Dispersing them is also for their own good as well,
how long will it be before a commuter has enough of the bad behaviour and gives someone a good slapping?

If they are abusive to me I wouldn't think twice about a good uppercut.

CH

Feb 13th, 2008 - 2:28 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

They must be REALLY desperate for something to do if the best way thing they can think of is to hang around the station in Cookham.

I love our village dearly but there's nothing there and it's not exactly bangin'. We're not talking the cool gang, are we?

Grumpy bugger

Feb 13th, 2008 - 2:37 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

No we're talking about the dregs of society here.

The vast majority of kids in Cookham are decent people, brought up properly and hard working.

The ones hanging around by the station are either from outside Cookham or oiks brought up in the council estate.

Showem

Feb 13th, 2008 - 3:43 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

I really can't see kids from outside of Cookham, travelling most likely by train, on a school night, coming to Cookham to simply hang around Countrystore. Accept the fact that they are most likely local.

Worried Resident, I'm very sorry you had to experience this. I agree something should be done. As for playing that buzzing tone, you don't have to go so far. I know other places that had lots of success removing teenagers from around their premises simply by playing easy-listening music on speakers outside. A bit of The Carpenters or Celine Dion will probably be enough to discourage them.

Gramm

Feb 13th, 2008 - 3:48 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

Play 'em a bit of country and western - that'll get 'em shifted. Or failing that, how about a nice bit of Beethoven?

It'd shift the oiks, and everyone else would have an alternative to listening to swearing.

LizzyK

Feb 13th, 2008 - 4:45 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

OK you play music, buzzers, whatever, where do you think the young people are going to go? The station is as good a place as any to meet your friends if you are too young to go into a pub and there are no other facilities around and YES most of them do live in Cookham.

CH

Feb 13th, 2008 - 5:13 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

Why don't they meet round one of their houses, go to the cinema, take up a team sport, join a theatre/music group ....... These don't all cost money.

Resident 2

Feb 13th, 2008 - 7:06 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

I've seen these same kids hanging around Station Road / back of the dental surgery, where I was also the target of abuse. Not kids I would be proud of if I was their parent.

Gramm

Feb 14th, 2008 - 10:04 AM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

CH - you make an excellent point. There are plenty of cheap things to do if you just get up off your own backside and go and find them.

Having said that though, I wasn't particularly imaginative at some points of my teenage years - but I still didn't feel the need to hang around in an abusive intimidating group. Yes, we hung around together, but we managed to keep some manners in our heads.

Makes me wonder though just what their parents think their kids are doing? Surely they have to bear some responsibility and could probably manage to shuttle their offspring to youth clubs, sports clubs etc so that the kids can make the most of the opportunities available to them locally?

station road

Feb 14th, 2008 - 10:13 AM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

Living on Station Road,
I noted that the obnoxious gang people are talking about congregate at one of the houses halfway down the street on the right hand side.
Seemingly visiting friends there,

However they spend most of their time lurking in the street smoking and swearing... Where are the parents when all this is going on?

As i've observered on numerous occasions, sat on their backsides watching tv while the kids annoy the hell out of everyone.

Plodder

Feb 14th, 2008 - 11:41 AM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

Isn't Station Road a private road, and therefore can they be asked to leave (by the police if necessary)?

Not sure if this would work legally or practically, maybe someone knows?

Resident

Feb 15th, 2008 - 8:56 AM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

I drove past the station last night at 10.15pm. There were youths on bikes hanging around who looked to be 13 -14 yrs old. State schools break up today for half term but the private schools broke up yesterday. I can only assume therefore that these boys are either from homes where the parents don't care what they are doing on a school night or from homes whose parents send them to private school and don't care what they are doing on a holiday night. Either way I assume that they are local boys rather than travelling in from outside the village.

JB.™

Feb 15th, 2008 - 10:47 AM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

They were there at 7pm when I got off the train... I don't think they are from private schools judging by the language being used..

Gramm

Feb 15th, 2008 - 10:50 AM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

Last night I saw the PCSOs at the station parade car park, and a hoodie oik keeping a low profile by staying on the railway side of the station building. He was quite obviously keeping a look out for the rest of his gang, presumably waiting out of sight for the PCSOs to go somewhere else - which they did in due course. I doubt if the PCSOs even realised that there was a group lurking round the corner because they didn't go to take a look. Do they have any jurisdiction actually on the station platform?

Pongo

Feb 15th, 2008 - 11:11 AM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

The railway police have jurisdiction on railway property, not the police. They have been down from London to Cookham in the past.

dc

Feb 15th, 2008 - 2:22 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

i can name most of the yobs hanging around,as 99% of them live in cookham.i also know that a number of them are banned from the countrystores but still go in as they know that noone can really stop them.i know people who work in the shop who tell me they are sick of these little darlings comeing in and trying to but cigs,even though everyone can see they are underage,they use the deoderants that are for sale and fill their pockets at every oppotunity they can the are also extreemly loud and constantly swear and have their chav music that is violent and rude rap that we all have 2 put up with incudding any small children within earshot.the police do visit the shop in the evenings but do next to nothing about these yobs we need to have a ZERO tolerance of this before someone gets seriously hurt.perhaps taking the yobs to the police station and ringing the parants to go and collect.1 mum even parades her little darling around the shop (even though hes banned)saying very loudly that "they cant ban you when your with your mum,how dare they)another mum comes in and buys her son his cigs even though hes 15,these should be addressed aswell.

CH

Feb 15th, 2008 - 3:45 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

With parents like that ...

Gramm

Feb 15th, 2008 - 4:01 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

Ban the parents from the store as well. I'm not a smoker, but I can imagine how those that do would feel if the actions of these, quite honestly unbelievable parents, resulted in the store not being able to sell cigarettes and alcohol. And while we're at it, hand out a few ASBOS at the same time.

calvin

Feb 15th, 2008 - 5:03 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

this is not a new problem in cookham,it has always been with us,i myself used to hang around the station or the park or the bridge on the moor,smoking and messing around way back in the early 1980s,problem is no parents want a house full of rowdy teenagers in the evening and your too young to go to the pub!which is what you really want to do.peoples respect for each other seems to have gotten less and less over the years which only makes things worse.

in that case

Feb 15th, 2008 - 5:25 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

"another mum comes in and buys her son his cigs even though hes 15,these should be addressed as well."

Report her for supplying tobacco to a minor.
Not sure about asbo's a bloody could clip round the ear would do the trick......

dc

Feb 16th, 2008 - 4:42 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

oh,if only it was that easy.to just clip em round the ear.im fed up with people making excuses for them by saying they have nothing to do.they wouldnt go to a youth club or anything because they would have to behave(no smoking drinking or swearring)and they would have to do what they are told by the adults in charge.......if anyone could find some one brave enough to be in charge that is.

Resident

Feb 19th, 2008 - 10:01 AM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

6.30pm yesterday evening getting off the train in Cookham. 4 boys I reckon 12-13 yrs old got on the train and then stood in the doorway to stop the doors from closing. I've seen them before on bikes so obviously local. I nearly got out of my car to say something but as I've had my car vandalised at the station before I decided against it. It would be nice to see a police presence around the station and Countrystores say between 6pm and 8pm.

Resident

Feb 19th, 2008 - 10:56 AM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

What a helpful reply Gramm. I am sure those on the way to Bourne End after a long day at work really appreciated the delay to their journey. Maybe you are lucky and don't have to work or commute but many of us do and I don't see why we should have to put up with abusive, vandalism and intimidation to do it. Some people think that these boys are from outside the village but it is clear to me that they are probably the children of parents who don't care. I can only assume that you are one of those parents from your posting here. You must be very proud.

JB.™

Feb 19th, 2008 - 11:22 AM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

Resident, this sounds like the group that are loitering around the station regularly.

Last week they barged onto the train swearing as people were trying to get off... they got a sharp elbow in the ribs from me.

JB.™

Feb 19th, 2008 - 12:01 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

Gramm
" that must have been really scary.have you cosidered going to shock therapy to help you get over this terrible ordeal..... "

Not really a helpful comment.

1.
Commuters work long hours and shouldn't have to tolerate this annoyance and some people find it quite intimidating.
Would you appreciate a group of 10 kids barging into you each time you try to get out of your car?

2.
What happens when the yobs push things too far and a commuter finally loses their temper - one of the kids could get badly hurt
Or a passenger could get hurt by the little yobs.

3.
Children messing around by railway lines is never a good idea and one day will end in someone getting seriously injured.

4.
Interfering with the trains causes delays and wastes people's time, i'm sure the train drivers are sick of it.

5.
Unless you have a valid ticket you shouldn't be on the platform anyway -- I doubt any of them intend to travel on the train so they are in effect trespassing on private property.

6.
By letting this anti social behaviour continue we're just sending out the message that it's ok as there are no consequences..... so the behaviour will get worse.

That's the moaning out of the way, so what is the solution?
Hmmm

- A regular Police / PCSO presence at the station in the evenings would be good.
Couldn't they take the names and addresses of the kids and go and speak to their parents?

I don't buy the whole "There's nothing for kids to do argument"... this is no excuse for foul language, intimidating behaviour and general yobbery that is taking place.
I grew up in rural Dorset, the nearest cinema was 23 miles away as was any type of leisure complex.
Of course we loitered around and got drunk occasionally, but we certainly didn't shout at members of the public and barge into people.

In my view they're just obnoxious little sods with no respect for society intent on causing trouble.
There are plenty of other kids in Cookham that behave properly and seem to find of constructive things to do.

Phew rant over......

JB.™

Feb 19th, 2008 - 12:07 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

Sorry I should have worded it better -

There is a PCSO presence in the evenings and they are doing a good job,
however it seems that an increased presence is needed at the moment - with a follow up to address the issue with the parents.

Either that, or a name and shame on the Cookham website?

CH

Feb 20th, 2008 - 11:49 AM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

I almost ran a couple of them over last night. They ran out in front of my car after jumping off the station platform.

The really irritating thing was that they got half way across the road and then slowed to a walk just to make sure that I had to slam my brakes on to avoid them.

Can't tell you how tempted I was to clip one of them.

Gramm

Feb 20th, 2008 - 12:02 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

Resident and JB - I'm the real Gramm and someone is making these unhelpful posts in my name, you should know I'm not normally that abrupt in my postings, but I don't blame you for your comments, in honesty I would have responded in a similar vein when I saw a post like that. I'm going to change my name completely now, especially as another post has appeared which besmirches my character. Watch out guys - you could be next. There are obviously some malicious people out there trying to stir up trouble for people making honest postings.

Gramm

Feb 20th, 2008 - 2:02 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

Maybe it's time the board went back to requiring registration requiring full contact details...
email / address / mobile number ..

At least then we could all maintain our identity and only have people willing to make valid contributions on the forum.
All that anonymous posting seems to have done is open the floodgates to dross , trolling and offensive comments.

my 2 pence worth

CH

Feb 20th, 2008 - 2:05 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

You can always claim in your defence that they just ran out in front of you.. a few more idiots removed from the gene pool is no bad thing.

jb.™

Feb 20th, 2008 - 2:06 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

Sorry previous 2 posts were from me... I entered the usernames in the subject by mistake.

Also just wondering why we've not had any comment from the cops / pcso's on this thread yet?

me

Feb 20th, 2008 - 3:13 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

names i,ll give you names if you like and in a couple of cases addresses.the police in cookham need an office IN COOKHAM,rather than down hidden away in the posh odney club,then maybe we,ll get some peace and quiet in the evenings,how about the old shoe repair place by the station,then the police can see and be seen.decent members of the public could call in easier to report any trouble and the police can get there quicker to catch the little gits at their worst.easy really when you think of it.

Paris

Feb 20th, 2008 - 5:33 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

Me - that sounds like a good idea - I didn't even know there was an office at the Odney Club. Visibility by our Policeman and his PCSOs can only be a good thing.

sods law

Feb 22nd, 2008 - 10:24 AM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

last night two police officers got off the train at Cookham.... and the usual gang of oiks were nowhere to be seen :)

old bill

Feb 22nd, 2008 - 10:34 AM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

no because they had been arrested at 4PM and were being interviewed

eric

Feb 22nd, 2008 - 11:50 AM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

I saw them about 7pm walking in the middle of lower road trying to get run down by playing dare with the traffic.

nosey

Feb 22nd, 2008 - 1:36 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

You're probably not at liberty to divulge this Old Bill.. But

On what charges were they arrested?

old bill

Feb 23rd, 2008 - 11:35 AM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

can not be the same people. not released till 10PM

akela

Feb 25th, 2008 - 8:22 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

Here's a novel thought by way of a spanner in the works... ( and I do understand all the comments previous to this one. gangs of youth can be very intimidating indeed )
just a few of us do care enough about the young people in our area to do something positive. In cookham we have the largest scout troop in the District. Now I know Scouts is not for everyone but if adults got behind the youth project which Lizzie K tries to organize for example then maybe there would be fewer loitering and more fun to be had for everyone. Yes that does require hard working grown ups to get off the sofa and be willing to run activities for them. by the time they are the age of 14 they could be doing Duke of edinburgh awards for example. it just needs a guiding hand to put them on the right track.( no pun intended) Any volunteers?

dc

Feb 26th, 2008 - 11:07 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

no one wants to even walk past them on the street let alone run events like this.these little darlings are only interested in stealing and causing problems.being in the scouts or doing any kind of award would all seem uncool to these feral monsters,in a few years they,ll be having kids of their own i expect and the next generation will have their parents morals and behavior.so dont give them sympathy because they dont deserve it they,re not stupid they know what they are doing,and they know its wronge.if you feel that bad for them take them off the street in the evenings and take them into your home.i dont think so...

Resident

Feb 27th, 2008 - 8:42 AM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

Since the majority of these lads seem to be under 16 I assume that they do have homes to go to. Maybe the police should try holding the parents responsible. Not all teenagers behave like this but the behaviour of this minority is tarnishing the reputation of the majority of teenagers in Cookham.

Resident

Mar 2nd, 2008 - 9:11 PM

Re: Teenage Gang Hanging around Countrystore

Haven't encountered this crowd over the weekend but I did have a pretty horrible encounter with a bunch of 12 year olds in the recreation ground this afternoon so I know where the next lot of surly and rude teenagers are going to come from.

Took my 3 yr old to have a play in the playground only to find it full of 12 and older children playing football and generally trying to wreck the equipment,eg 12 yr olds standing and swinging on the baby swings. Two footballs being kicked at force. One hit my child when he was on the swing and then hit me. It really hurt and my son had a mark on his side when he got home. I had to tell them twice to come and apologise and twice to get them to go and play in the recreation ground. They thought it was funny. Had to stop my little chap from running after them to tell them off (when they eventually left) and they then kicked the football against the playground fence. Completely ignorant bunch and not one had the manners that I expect, and receive, as a matter of course from my child.

Before this incident I was wondering when I had to start telling my child that not everyone he encounters in this life is nice. Unfortunately that lesson started today.