Don't let the gangs rule

EAST KILBRIDE NEWS.

GRAFFITI-swathed underpasses covered in the battle colours and logos of opposing gangs, a church with state-of-the-art shutters to protect its glass from the constant barrage of stones and bottles, residents too afraid to confront local hooligans for fear of revenge attacks.

Undoubtedly a grim picture of modern life, but this is no snapshot of the Bronx or South Central LA - this is East Kilbride.
This is Westwood, aka the Wild West.
Since the night of mayhem in November in which over 40 baseball bat-wielding youths went on the rampage through the area leaving a 14-year-old boy with a serious gash to the head and countless locals fearful for their safety, police say more is being done to crack down on crime and keep Westwood safe.
Six youths have so far been charged in connection with the incident, but according to one Westwood local the area is gradually falling under the rule of gangs who have no fear of either the police or their parents.
The woman, who does not want to be named, said: "In the last year or two the situation in Westwood - or rather the Wild West as it is known - has become worse than ever.
The gangs congregate in underpasses, carrying weapons, drinking and taking drugs. They've run out of walls to spray graffiti on and moved to the pavements. These kids are only 13-17 years old but it's too scary to walk past them. Decent people like myself have to take the long way round.
"The police need to increase their presence - they need to be seen to be seen. These thugs know the police won't turn up till after there's been a fight, so they know they've got plenty time to get away." The woman worries that if the situation worsens the house she's worked hard to buy and improve will soon become worthless. "Who would want to buy a house in the Wild West? I know I wouldn't," she said.
As the graffiti boasts of entering Young Westwood territory at Darwin Road, the siege mentality continues for families living near these self-proclaimed battle stations.
One man whose home overlooks a row of YW-adorned lock-ups nearby claims there is trouble almost on a nightly basis, as the gangs arrange to fight their rivals from Greenhills, the Murray and Fernhill or just sit for hours on end on public access stairs.
He says the police need to do more to combat the fear of crime amongst the majority of good, hardworking people. "One night I went out and told a gang not to throw bricks near my house. The next day all my rose bushes had been pulled out and they had left the bricks in my garden. On another occasion a gang planted a knife in the garden as some sort of warning," said the man. He continued: "It's frightening for myself and my family. We're trying to keep our area tidy but these young thugs have no respect for themselves or anyone. I've lived here for 35 years, but I can no longer say I'm proud to come from Westwood." At the Westwood Square shops, things are little better.
Westwood Parish Church last week had to install shutters over the windows at a cost of £6000, after 14 panes of glass at the rear were broken by hooligans, the latest in a long line of attacks upon a building supposed to symbolise community spirit.
Minister Kevin McKenzie, who has been in charge of the parish for five years, agrees that levels of vandalism and intimidation have worsened in the last two years. "It's very sad," said Reverend McKenzie.
"Since the gang rampage last year things have gone back to normal - as bad as they were before. We get most of our trouble at night. The security cameras on the Square are useful, but the lighting is so bad that anyone caught on camera probably couldn't be identified anyway. I've been on to the council about lighting on various occasions, but so far nothing has been done." He continued: "When the police are called they just don't come quickly enough. The last time I phoned I was put into a queue and had to age before I was even connected. "The Square is not a good place to be - everyone around here knows that. We need more bobbies on the beat, patrolling more frequently, acting as a deterrent. We need to let our elderly and young people get on with their lives in their own community without fear." In the meantime, both young and old Westwood want to reclaim their territory.

ljc