Boothferry residents urged to report trouble after youths ‘play conkers with buses’

Residents are being urged to report antisocial behaviour on Boothferry estate after missiles were hurled at buses on the estate and one woman spoke of being scared to go out at night. Buses were diverted away from the area earlier this week because of the problems, though services have since resumed. Emma Hardy, the MP for Hull West and Hessle, said speaking up could help to make a "lasting difference".

Ms Hardy told BBC Look North: "I think it's appalling that they [the residents] are in that situation and it is completely unacceptable. I would encourage everybody to report the crimes. As far as I'm aware from speaking to the police, the most recent incidents have only been reported by one person, so please, please do report."

She added: "I know at the moment from so many people there's this feeling that 'we'll report and nothing happens', but we need to keep showing the evidence that there's a problem there, so the police will divert those resources. The local authority needs to get involved as well in dealing with this. It cannot just be a police alone matter to make that lasting difference, because nobody should feel frightened going about their daily business."

Bus services on the west Hull estate were temporarily suspended on Wednesday evening. Simon Cowey of East Yorkshire Buses told the BBC[1] that the youths were effectively "playing conkers" with the buses, as part of a series of events that have become "quite dangerous".

Mr Cowey said: "In that area we've had a number of incidents. A lot of it is stemming from a disorder incident on Monday morning.

We've had television sets thrown from the footbridge, effectively trying to play conkers with the bus, and we've had kids throwing stones, running out in front of the vehicles. It's all getting quite dangerous now," he said. Antisocial behaviour on Boothferry Estate has flared up on several occasion in recent years.

In April this year, gangs of youths set a motorbike alight and threw stones at cars[2]. Neighbours living opposite Gower Park witnessed the frightening scenes over the Easter weekend. Following the Easter incidents, police said that they would not tolerate antisocial behaviour and would take appropriate action against those involved.

On Monday this week, a heavy police presence was witnessed in the area[3] after a violent incident involving two women in Anlaby Park Road South, though officers described it as an "isolated incident". Cllr Mark Ieronimo, who represents the ward, told the BBC that incidents had been on a downward trend and the latest spate of trouble had come "out of the blue". Cllr Ieronimo said: "There seems to have been a spate of antisocial behaviour just recently.

"It's come out of the blue because we're on a downward trend and actually our ward is quite safe compared to other parts of the city. We're significantly below their averages and in many cases, below national averages, so this is a little bit unusual." Residents on the estate complained that youths were "out of control", with one claiming to have had her telephone and internet wires cut, as well as being fearful of walking in the area at night.

She told the BBC: "I've had my phone wires cut and my internet wires cut. The kids are a nightmare, they go round on motorbikes nearly running people over. "They're cheeky, they go towards you to attack you and everything.

It's bad even to come out on a night.

They were throwing fireworks at buses at one point.

All of them are out of control."

References

1. ^ BBC (www.hulldailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ gangs of youths set a motorbike alight and threw stones at cars (www.hulldailymail.co.uk)
3. ^ a heavy police presence was witnessed in the area (www.hulldailymail.co.uk)